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PANSIES 


FOR  THOUGHTS 


FROM  THE  WRITINGS  OF 

PANSY  — MRS  G R ALDEN 


COMPILED  AND  ARRANGED 
WITH  AN  APPROPRIATE  TEXT  FOR  EACH  DAY  BY 

GRACE  LIVINGSTON 

Author  of 
A Chautauqua  Idyl 


BOSTON 

D LOTHROP  COMPANY 


FRANKLIN  AND  HAWLEY  STREETS 


Copyright,  1888, 

BY 

D.  Lothrop  Company. 


Presswork  by  Berwick  & Smith,  Boston. 


24  Z 

rilSp 

<^P-A 

PREFACE. 


I have  followed  with  absorbing  interest  the  com- 
pilation of  this  volume.  As  I have  watched  the 
fair  young  head  bent  from  day  to  day  over  “ The 
Deathless  Book,”  making  quotations  from  its  in- 
spired pages  that  should  repeat  and  emphasize  my 
own  thoughts,  there  has  been  a grateful,  uplifting, 
humbling  realization  of  the  fact  that  I was  being 
linked  with  immortality ! For  certainly  the  words 
that  accompany  my  simple  ones  make  each  page 
glow  with  a light  that  shall  have  power  to  shine 
even  to  the  very  gates  of  the  eternal  city. 

Moreover,  as  I have  watched  ihe  thoughtful  face 
of  the  compiler  brighten  and  flush,  and  her  eyes 
grow  earnest  while  her  heart  took  in  some  solemn 
charge  of  the  Master,  I have  felt  that,  as  she 
transmitted  it  to  paper,  there  went  with  it  a prayer 
that  the  Holy  Spirit  who  had  guided  her  choice, 
would  use  these  pages  in  a way  to  lead  some  souls 
daily  higher,  and  higher,  even  into  the  “shining 
light”  of  the  “perfect  day.” 

In  this  wish  and  prayer  I join  her  earnestly,  as 
the  little  book  goes  out  to  do  its  work. 

Pansy. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/pansiesforthough00pans_0 


JANUARY. 


1.  The  Lord  knows  the  end  from  the  be- 
ginning, and  nothing  is  surer  than  that  He 
uses  His  children  to  carry  out  His  plans. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ He  knowetli  thy  walking  through  this  great  wil- 
derness.” 

2.  This  is  my  verse  when  I am  discour- 
aged: “ Wait  on  the  Lord;  be  of  good 
courage  and  he  shall  strengthen  thine  heart : 
wait,  I say,  on  the  Lord.” 

Ester  Ried. 

“ No  word  He  hath  spoken , 

Was  ever  yet  broken.” 

3.  “ Pity’s  sake ! if  you  weren’t  going 
to  be  a better  woman  by  ten  thousand  times 
when  you  get  to  heaven  than  you  are  here, 
why,  heaven  would  be  an  out  and  out  disap- 
pointment, that’s  all,”  said  Priscilla  Hunter. 

Miss  Priscilla  Hunter. 

“ And  as  we  have  borne  the  image  of  the  earthly , 
we  shall  also  bear  the  image  of  the  heavenly.” 

5 


6 


JANUARY. 


4.  Conscience,  working  all  alone,  is  a 
very  uncomfortable  and  disagreeable  com- 
panion, and  often  accomplishes  for  the  time 
being  nothing  beyond  making  his  victim 
disagreeable. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Their  conscience  also  hearing  witness , and  their 
thoughts  the  meanwhile  accusing  or  else  excusing 
one  another.” 

5.  You  take  a diamond  and  throw  it 
down  in  the  dirt  and  filth,  and  put  your  foot 
on  it  and  grind  it  in,  and  leave  it  there, 
sinking  and  soiling,  day  after  day,  year 
after  year,  and  when  somebody  comes  along 
and  picks  it  out,  how  much  will  it  gleam 
for  Him  at  first  ? Yet  the  diamond  is  there. 

Ester  Ried  yet  Speaking. 

“ Thou  slialt  he  a crown  of  glory  in  the  hand  of  the 
Lord,  and  a royal  diadem  in  the  hand  of  thy  God.” 

6.  “ Peace  with  God ! ” It  expresses 
so  much  ! Peace  is  greater  than  joy,  or  com- 
fort, or  rest. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ And  let  the  peace  of  God  rule  in  your  hearts , to 
the  which  also  you  are  called  in  one  body.” 


JANUARY. 


7 


7.  Mine  is  the  doing  when  He  says  the 
word,  but  His  is  the  bringing  to  pass.  And 
that,  you  see,  is  the  end  of  all  worrying  and 
planning  and  doubt.  There  is  no  rest  nor 
comfort  outside  of  that  conclusion. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ Then  he  said  unto  the  man , Stretch  forth  thine 
hand.  And  he  stretched  it  forth ; and  it  was  re- 
stored whole , like  as  the  other ” 

8.  A sweet-faced  cooing  baby,  arrayed 
in  fine  white-broidered  garments,  with  bright 
eyes  and  dimpled  chin,  and  mouth  that 
breaks  into  radiant  smiles  whenever  one 
looks  that  way,  is  an  exquisite  bit  of  enjoy- 
ment for  anybody. 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ And  when  she  saw  that  he  was  a goodly  child 
she  hid  him  three  months” 

9.  What  a fearful  world  it  would  be  if 
things  just  happened , with  nobody  to  man- 
age or  control ! 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ For  the  eyes  of  the  Lord  run  to  and  fro  through- 
out the  whole  earth , to  show  himself  strong  in  the 
behalf  of  them  whose  heart  is  perfect  toward  him.” 


8 


JANUARY. 


10.  We  grieve  sometimes  that  we  can- 
not know  people’s  hearts,  and  foresee  what 
would  please,  and  what  would  irritate. 
Hearts  calm  down  wonderfully  sometimes  ; 
what  need  then  to  know  of  their  depths 
while  at  boiling  point  ? But  what  sights 
must  the  all-seeing  God  look  down  upon  ! 
Sights  in  tenderness  shut  away  from  the 
gaze  of  His  weak  children. 

A New  Graft. 


“ For  He  knoweth  the  secrets  of  the  heart” 


11.  “Dilligent  in  business,  serving  the 
Lord.”  There  is  no  period  dividing  these. 
I long  ago  discovered  that  I could  make  a 
bed  and  sweep  a room  for  His  sake,  as 
surely  as  I could  speak  a word  for  Him. 

A New  Graft. 


“ Faith  is  the  golden  thread  on  vihich  we  string  for 
offering , 

Our  feeble  deeds  of  poor  self-sacrifice; 

Unworthy  gifts , yet  in  His  grace , the  King 
Accounts  them  pearls  of  price” 


JANUARY. 


9 


12.  I know  people  who  suppose  it  would 
be  almost  irreverent  to  take  their  domestic 
bewilderments  to  Christ.  I cannot  think 
what  kind  of  a friend  they  imagine  Him 
to  be,  if  they  are  afraid  to  go  to  Him  with 
everything. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord;  trust  also  in 
him;  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass.” 

13.  Although  the  Lord  is  gracious  and 
forbearing,  and  kindly  gives  me  the  work 
to  do  here  and  there  for  Him,  He  can,  when 
He  chooses,  get  along  entirely  without  any 
help. 

Three  People. 

“ For  of  him , and  through  him , and  to  him , are 
all  things : to  whom  be  glory  forever.” 

14.  You  may  often  speak  words  which 
spring  up,  and  bear  fruit  that  reaches  up  to 
God ; though  you  do  not  know  it,  and  will 
not,  until  in  heaven  you  take  your  crown, 
and  question  why  there  are  so  many  stars. 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I will  give 
thee  a crown  of  life.” 


10 


JANUARY. 


15.  The  heart  must  understand  that  what- 
ever the  Lord  directs  it  intends  to  do,  or 
there  is  no  opening  of  the  door  for  Him. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ All  that  the  Lord  hath  said  we  will  do , and  he 
obedient .” 

16.  To  God,  nothing  that  an  immortal 
soul  can  say,  appears  trivial,  because  he  sees 
the  waves  of  influence  which  are  stirred 
years  ahead  by  the  quiet  words. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Words  are  things  of  little  cost , 

Quickly  spoken,  quickly  lost ; 

We  forget  them,  hut  they  stand 
Witnesses  at  God's  right  hand  ; 

And  their  testimony  hear 
For  us,  or  against  us  there." 

IT.  There  is  no  place  on  the  road  so  dark 
but  that  the  Bible  can  light  you  through,  if 
you  try  it.  When  you  don’t  understand  it, 
there  is  always  Jesus  to  go  to,  you  know. 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ Thy  loord  is  a lamp  unto  my  feet,  and  a light 
unto  my  path.  ” 


JANUARY. 


11 


18.  God’s  son  ! To  go  to  Him,  saying, 
“ Father,  what  shall  I do  about  this  ? ” and, 
u What  would  you  advise  as  to  that  ? ” 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ 1 will  be  his  God,  and  he  shall  be  my  son.” 


19.  God  never  promised  to  compromise 
with  his  own,  never  promised  to  hear  a 
prayer  which  began  with  an  “ If.”  Entire 
consecration  means  all  the  “ ifs  ” thrown 
down  at  the  feet  of  the  Lord  for  Him  to 
control  as  He  will. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Nevertheless’,  not  as  I will , but  as  thou  wilt.” 


20.  Is  it  so  strange  a thing  that  the 
Lord  can  keep  his  own  ? 

Three  People. 

“ He  will  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  be  moved : He  that 
keepeth  thee  will  not  slumber. 

Behold , He  that  keepeth  Israel  shall  neither  slum- 
ber nor  sleep. 

The  Lord  is  thy  keeper:  the  Lord  is  thy  shade 
upon  thy  right  hand.” 


12 


JANUARY. 


21.  It  is  wonderful,  after  all,  how  rarely 
in  this  wicked  world  we  meet  with  other 
than  respect  in  answer  to  a frank  avowal  of 
our  determination  to  be  on  the  Lord’s  side. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Wherefore  Thou  art  great , 0,  Lord  God:  for 
there  is  none  like  Thee , neither  is  there  any  God 
beside  Thee , according  to  all  that  we  have  heard 
with  our  ears.” 

22  Individual  effort  is  so  necessary  that 
I have  thought  perhaps  the  Holy  Spirit 
turns  our  thoughts  most  directly  toward  one 
person  at  a time,  so  that  we  may  concentrate 
our  efforts. 

A New  Graft. 

“ While  Peter  thought  on  the  vision , the  Spirit 
said  unto  him,  Behold , three  men  seek  thee. 

Arise  therefore,  and  get  thee  down , and  go  with 
them,  doubting  nothing : for  I have  sent  them.” 

23.  I don’t  know  how  a thoughtful  man 
can  ever  reject  the  idea  of  an  overruling 
Providence. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart , There  is  no 
God.” 


JANUARY. 


13 


24.  Shall  you  and  I ever  stand  beside  a 
new-made  grave,  receiving  one  whom  we 
have  known  ever  so  slightly,  and  have  to 
settle  with  our  conscience  and  our  Saviour, 
because  we  have  not  invited  that  one  to 
come  to  Jesus  ? 

Ester  Ried. 

“ And  the  Lord  said  unto  Cain , Where  is  Abel 
thy  brother f And  he  said , I know  not:  am  I my 
brothers  keeper  ? ” 

25.  Never  mind  whether  you  are  now 
one  of  His  children  or  not ; claim  the  place 
of  a child  because  you  need  to  be,  and  wish 
to  be,  and  mean  to  be  one  from  this  moment. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Beloved , now  are  we  the  sons  of  God.” 

26.  “ She  came  finally  to  understand  that 
the  point  was  not,  Was  I a Christian  last 
year,  or  last  week,  or  even  yesterday  ? but, 
Do  I mean  to  be  one  to-day  — now  ? 

The  Randolphs. 

“ If  a man  abide  not  in  Me , he  is  cast  forth  as  a 
branch , and  is  withered ; and  men  gather  them,  and 
cast  them  into  the  fire,  and  they  are  burned.” 


14 


JANUARY. 


27.  The  flush  had  died  away  from  Buth’s 
face ; she  was  growing  very  pale.  This  was 
a rapid  descent  from  the  mount  whereon  she 
had  been  standing : only  a moment  before, 
she  had  felt  as  though  earth  and  its  com- 
monplaces could  not  touch  her  again ; be- 
cause she  had  been  permitted  for  a moment 
to  stand  face  to  face  with  Jesus  Christ. 
Yet  here  was  the  keen,  cruel  world  at  her 
very  elbow  ! 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation:  but  be 
of  good  comfort : I have  overcome  the  world” 


28.  I don’t  know  whether  it  will  work 
or  not;  and  what  is  more,  I never  shall 
know  until  I try.  There  has  many  a thing 
been  accomplished  in  this  world  that  never 
would  have  been,  had  people  settled  it  in 
their  minds  that  it  couldn’t  be  done  before 
they  had  made  vigorous  efforts  to  do  it. 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ I can  do  all  things  through  Christ  which 
strengtheneth  me” 


JANUARY. 


15 


29.  Isn’t  it  pleasant  to  think  that  in  all 
those  little  things  He  is  watching  over  you, 
and  that  you  make  Him  glad  when  you  do 
them  well  ? 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ He  that  is  faithful  in  that  which  is  least  is 
faithful  also  in  much : and  he  that  is  unjust  in  the 
least  is  unjust  also  in  much.” 

30.  “ Cleanse  thou  me  from  secret  faults,” 
prayed  the  inspired  writer.  May  he  not 
have  meant  those  faults  so  secret  that  it 
takes  the  voice  of  God  to  reveal  them  to  our 
hearts  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ For  the  Lord  seeth  not  as  man  seeth;  for  man 
looketh  on  the  outward  appearance,  but  the  Lord 
looketh  on  the  heart.” 

31.  I can  think  of  a good  many  things 
which  we  call  right  enough,  that,  measured 
by  Paul’s  test,  would  have  to  be  given  up. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ But  take  heed  lest  by  any  means  this  liberty  of 
yours  become  a stumbling  block  to  them  that  are 
weak.” 


FEBRUARY. 


1.  “ Who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities.” 

What  a salvation  ! Able  to  forgive  trans- 
gression, to  cover  sin,  to  remember  it  no 
more. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Bearing  shame  and  scoffing  rude , 

In  my  place  condemned  He  stood  ; 

Sealed  my  pardon  with  His  blood : 
Hallelujah , what  a Saviour!” 

2.  You  can  find  plenty  of  work  if  you 
look  for  it ; only  don’t  look  too  far,  because 
it  is  the  little  bits  of  things,  which  come 
right  in  your  way,  that  Jesus  wants  yon 
to  do. 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ Well  done , thou  good  and  faithful  servant ; thou 
hast  been  faithful  over  a few  things , I will  make  thee 
ruler  over  many  things : enter  thou  into  the  joy  of 
thy  Lord” 

3.  You  don’t  know  what  a relief  it  is  to 
go  right  to  the  Lord  with  your  worries. 

The  Man  of  the  House. 

“ Casting  all  your  care  upon  him  ; for  he  careth 
for  you” 


FEBRUARY. 


17 


4.  There  will  be  no  such  thing  as  that 
hateful  word  “ disappointment”  up  in  heaven, 
bless  the  Lord;  haven’t  I His  own  word  for 
it  ? Didn’t  He  say  we  should  be  satisfied  ? 
I wonder  what  it  feels  like  to  be  satisfied! 

Miss  Priscilla  Hunter. 

“ I shall  be  satisfied  when  I awake  with  thy 
likeness .” 

5.  It  did  not  say  : “ My  grace  is  sufficient 
for  the  great  and  trying  experiences  of  this 
life,  but  for  the  little  every  day  annoyances 
and  trials  which  tempt  you  — you  must  look 
out  for  yourself.”  It  was  just  an  unlimited 
promise. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ God  is  faithful , who  will  not  suffer • you  to  be 
tempted  above  that  ye  are  able ; but  will  with  the 
temptation  also  make  a way  to  escape , that  ye  may 
be  able  to  bear  it.” 

6.  I take  it  that  God  permits  all  faithful 
service  to  be  for  His  glory. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ That  we  should  be  to  the  praise  of  his  glory,  who 
first  trusted  in  Christ.” 


18 


FEBRUARY. 


7.  Of  course  some  change  must  come ; 
nothing  ever  stayed  for  any  length  of  time, 
just  as  it  was  ; but  what  would  the  change 
be  ? It  came  in  an  unexpected  manner,  per- 
haps that  is  the  common  way  with  changes. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Watch  ye,  therefore;  for  ye  know  not  when  the 
master  of  the  house  cometli  — Lest  coming  suddenly, 
he  find  you  sleeping ” 


8.  Every  woman  owns  a little  piece  of 
the  world ; I do,  so  does  everybody,  why 
can’t  each  one  look  out  for  her  own  little 
corner  ? 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ Every  one  over  against  his  house” 


9.  It  is  His  own  voice  speaking.  Go  to 
Him  for  help,  and  as  sure  as  the  sun  shines 
above  these  clouds  you  will  get  just  what 
you  need. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ So  the  Lord  shall  make  bright  clouds” 


FEBRUARY. 


19 


10.  “Then  said  Jesus,  If  ye  continue  in 
my  words,  then  are  ye  my  disciples  in- 
deed.” Just  think  how  far  that  reaches  ! 
All  through  the  words  of  Jesus.  So  many 
of  them,  so  many  things  to  do,  and  so  many 
not  to  do;  and  then  not  only  to  begin  to 
follow  them,  but  to  continue;  day  after  day 
getting  a little  farther,  and  knowing  a little 
more. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith , and  of 
the  knowledge  of  the  Son  of  God , unto  a perfect 
man , unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fullness 
of  Christ .” 

11.  In  point  of  fact,  it  is  not  often  that 
He  calls  upon  people  to  make  the  sacrifice 
which  Satan  tries  to  push  into  their  minds 
as  a fearful  one ; but  whether  He  does  or  not 
is  not  then  the  question.  Having  allowed  a 
“ what  if  ” to  come  into  your  heart,  you  must 
get  rid  of  it  by  the  determination  to  do  vj/icct- 
ever  He  says,  or  you  really  cannot  belong  to 
Him,  however  much  you  may  wish  it. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Whatsoever  He  saitli  unto  you , do  it” 


20 


FEBRUARY. 


12.  To  live  so  that  when  people  spoke 
of  me  at  all,  the  most  marked  thing  they 
could  say  about  me  would  be,  not  how  I 
dressed,  or  appeared,  or  talked,  but  how 
strong  my  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  was, 
and  how  it  colored  all  my  words  and  acts. 
Wouldn’t  that  be  a grand  ambition  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ And  they  took  knowledge  of  them , that  they  had 
been  with  Jesus.” 

13.  Suppose  Christ  should  forgive  only 
those  who  had  treated  him  well ; would  you 
be  forgiven  to-day  ? 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ But  if  ye  forgive  not  men  their  trespasses , neither 
will  your  Father  forgive  your  trespasses.” 

14.  Why  can’t  Christian  people  at  least, 
see  that  they  have  no  right  to  consult  their 
own  inclinations  ? that  the  object  is  to  save 
souls,  and  bodies,  and  that  in  every  con- 
ceivable place,  and  at  every  possible  time, 
when  an  opportunity  is  offered,  it  is  their 
duty  to  put  themselves  where  they  will  be 
sure  to  be  counted  on  the  right  side  ? 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ She  hath  done  what  she  could.19 


FEBRUARY, 


21 


15.  Are  you  quite  happy  as  a Christian  ? 
Do  you  find  your  love  growing  stronger  and 
your  hopes  brighter  from  day  to  day  ? 

Ester  Ried. 

“ But  grow  in  grace , and  in  the  knowledge  of  our 
Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ .” 

16.  “ He  could  not  do  many  mighty  works 
there  because  of  their  unbelief.”  I think 
that  is  what  is  the  matter  with  the  world 
to-day.  I wonder  if  He  would  not  be  pleased 
with  one  who  could  throw  herself  at  His  feet 
with  a childlike  abandon  of  faith,  and  expect 
wonders,  yes,  and  impossibilities,  just  as  a 
child  feels  that  anything  can  be  done  by 
father  ? 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ If  our  faith  were  but  more  simple , 

We  should  take  Him  at  Ills  word, 

And  our  lives  would  be  all  sunshine 
In  the  sweetness  of  our  Lord.” 

17.  My  dear  friend,  you  have  really  no 
right  to  set  a different  time  from  the  one 
that  your  Master  has  set.  Don’t  you  know 
that  His  time  is  always  now  ? 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time  ; behold,  now  is 
the  day  of  salvation.” 


22 


FEBRUARY. 


18.  Sometimes  the  people  whom  we  meet 
but  once,  with  whom  we  really  have  very* 
little  to  do,  are  given  a word  to  say,  or  an  act 
to  perform,  that  shall  influence  all  our  future 
lives. 

A New  Graft. 

“ What  manner  of  persons  ought  ye  to  he  in  all 
holy  conversation  and  godliness  V' 

19.  If  somebody  had  only  bent  down  to 
him,  and  whispered  a few  words,  just  to  set 
his  poor  wandering  feet  into  the  narrow 
way,  how  blessed  it  would  have  been ! but 
nobody  did. 

Ah,  never  mind  ! God  knew,  and  took 
care  of  him. 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ And  let  him  that  heareth  say , Come” 

20.  Perchance  that  sleeping  Christian 
might  have  been  startled  and  aroused,  could 
she  have  realized  that  days  like  those  would 
never  come  back  to  her ; that  being  misspent 
they  had  passed  away. 

Ester  Ried. 

“ Awake  thou  that  steepest , and  arise  from  the 
dead , and  Christ  shall  give  thee  light” 


FEBRUARY. 


23 


21.  Did  you  never  wonder  that  some  por- 
tion some  little  sentence  from  the  Bible, 
should  so  forcibly  impress  your  mind,  and 
so  cling  to  you  ? Perhaps  you  tried  to  drive 
it  away,  so  much  did  it  trouble  you,  but  still 
it  hovered  around,  and  seemed  to  keep  repeat- 
ing itself  over  and  over  to  your  heart.  Be 
not  deceived.  This  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth 
passing  by  and  waiting  for  you  to  say,  “ Jesus, 
thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me.” 

Three  People. 

“ For  the  word  of  God  is  quick , and  powerful,  and 
sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword.” 


22.  One  mischief  with  Christians  is,  that 
when  they  sit  down  to  think  of  these  mat- 
ters, they  are  not  personal.  I am  apt  to 
ask  whether  people  act  as  though  they 
thought  religion  the  most  important  mat- 
ter in  life,  instead  of  asking  whether  I 
have  this  day  lived  as  though  I thought 
religion  the  most  important  matter  with 
which  I had  to  do. 

An  Endless  Chain. 


“ Is  it  well  with  thee? 


24 


FEBRUARY. 


23.  Clearly  if  she  wanted  the  sun,  it  was 
her  part  to  open  blinds  and  draw  back  cur- 
tains ; clearly  if  she  wanted  mental  light, 
it  was  her  part  to  use  the  means  that  God 
had  placed  at  her  disposal. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Work  out  your  oivn  salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling.  For  it  is  God  which  worketh  in  you 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure.” 

24.  We  are  all  too  willing  to  be  con- 
quered, not  willing  to  reach  after  and  obtain 
the  settled  and  ever-growing  joys  of  the 
Christian. 

Ester  Ried. 

“ O that  thou  hadst  hearkened  to  my  command- 
ments! then  had  thy  peace  been  as  a river , and  thy 
righteousness  as  the  waves  of  the  sea.” 

25.  Now  what  you  need  to  remember, 
is,  that  the  Lord  is  your  father,  whether 
you  choose  to  own  Him  or  not ; and  He  has 
a right  to  your  love,  and  your  help. 

Miss  Priscilla  Hunter. 

“ Do  ye  thus  requite  the  Lord , O foolish  people 
and  unwise?  is  not  he  thy  father  that  hath  bought 
thee?  hath  he  not  made  thee  and  established  thee?” 


FEBRUARY. 


25 


26.  Conversion  is  change  of  heart , and  a 
heart  given  np  to  the  reign  of  Christ,  the 
supreme  desire  being  to  please  Him,  will, 
at  the  outset,  be  a very  different  heart  from 
the  one  that  was  given  up  to  the  reign  of 
self. 

A New  Graft. 

“ That  they  which  live  should  not  henceforth  live 
unto  themselves , hut  unto  him  which  died  for  them , 
and  rose  again.” 

27.  If  my  Christian  life  were  so  marked 
a force  that  all  who  came  in  contact  with 
me  felt  its  influence,  it  would  be  natural 
to  speak  of  it,  when  my  friends  chanced  to 
mention  my  name. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“I  heard  of  your  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus.” 

28.  There’s  a thing  to  remember;  that 
you  don’t  belong  to  yourself  at  all ; and  are 
bound  to  do  the  best  you  can  with  your 
time,  and  strength,  and  everything. 

Eighty-Seven. 

11  What,  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is  the  temple 
of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  in  you , zuhich  ye  have  of 
God,  and  ye  are  not  your  own?” 


26 


FEBRUARY. 


29.  He  has  infinite  power,  and  infinite 
wisdom,  and  infinite  forgiveness.  There  is 
nothing  that  He  cannot  forgive,  and  noth- 
ing that  He  cannot  help  yon  to  do,  if  it  is 
right  that  yon  should  do  it.  I speak  with 
authority,  for  I have  tried  Him ; yes,  with 
better  authority  than  that  — for  He  has 
said  it. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ He  shall  deliver  thee  in  six  troubles:  yea , in 
seven  there  shall  no  evil  touch  thee” 


MAECH. 

1.  Did  yon  ever  tell  Him  all  about  it? 
Of  course  He  knows,  yet  His  direction  is 
that  for  our  own  sakes  we  tell  Him  the 
story. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Oh,  leave  it  all  with  Jesus , 

Drooping  soul ! 

Tell  not  half  thy  story, 

But  the  whole. 

Worlds  on  worlds  are  hanging 
On  His  hand, 

Life  and  death  are  waiting 
His  command  ; 

Yet  His  tender  bosom 
Makes  thee  room — Oh,  come  home  l” 


2.  Don’t  you  think  that  some  of  our 
trouble  is  in  being  content  with  simply 
reading,  not  studying  the  Bible  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Search  the  scriptures ; for  in  them  ye  think  ye 
have  eternal  life : and  they  are  they  which  testify  of 
me.” 

27 


28 


MARCH. 


3.  “ God  will  not  call  me  to  account  for 

your  undone  work,  only  my  own” 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ For  the  work  of  a man  shall  he  render  unto  him , 
and  cause  every  man  to  find  according  to  his  ways.” 


4.  We  have  need  of  missionaries  right 
here  at  home ; we  must  evangelize  the 
church  of  Christ,  and  get  it  to  take  hold 
of  its  privileges ! 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ He  that  hath  an  ear  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit 
saith  unto  the  churches;  To  him  that  overcometh 
will  I give  to  eat  of  the  hidden  manna , and  will  give 
him  a white  stone , and  in  the  stone  a new  name 
written , which  no  man  knoweth  save  he  that  receiv- 
etli  it.” 

5.  Is  it  possible  that  I have  been  one  of 
those  faithless  disciples,  rebuking,  or  at  least 
ignoring,  the  presence  of  one  of  His  little 
ones,  while  I reached  out  after  fruit  that  I 
dared  to  think  was  of  more  importance  ! 

A New  Graft. 

“ And  whoso  shall  receive  one  such  little  child  in 
my  name,receiveth  me.” 


MARCH. 


29 


6.  It  doesn’t  seem  to  me  that  it  is  money, 
or  time,  or  strength,  or  talent,  that  is  lacking, 
it  is  the  consecrated  heart.  A heart  that  is 
given  first  to  Christ,  and  secondly,  to  His 
work,  whatever  form  it  may  take,  or  what- 
ever may  be  the  door  that  opens. 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ And  who  then  is  willing  to  consecrate  his  service 
this  dag  unto  the  Lord?  ” 

7.  Isn’t  it  strange  that  the  followers  of 
Christ  will  go  on,  year  after  year,  bending  a 
listening  ear  to  Satan,  while  he  rings  the 
changes  of  that  old,  long-ago  vanished  false- 
hood, “ If  thou  be  the  Son  of  God  ? ” 

A New  Graft. 

“ Above  all , taking  the  shield  of  faith,  wherewith 
ye  shall  be  able  to  quench  all  the  fiery  darts  of  the 
wicked .” 


8.  “To  the  saints  and  faithful  brethren 
in  Christ  which  are  at  Colosse.”  Suppose 
we  had  been  living  at  Colosse  in  those 
days,  could  we  have  claimed  that  letter  to 
the  saints  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Beloved  of  God , called  to  be  saints .” 


30 


MARCH. 


9.  The  man  who  seems  to  me  the  most 
worthy  of  contempt,  is  the  one  who  has 
not  sufficient  moral  courage  to  break  3 
promise  after  he  discovers  that  it  ought 
never  to  have  been  made. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Hearken  unto  me , ye  that  know  righteousnes:  ^ 
the  people  in  whose  heart  is  my  law ; fear  ye  w.,* 
the  reproach  of  men , neither  be  ye  afraid  of  theh 
reviling  s .” 

10.  We  haven’t  to  do  anything  about  it 
until  to-morrow ; perhaps  to-morrow  will 
have  a light  of  its  own  for  our  direction. 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ Take  therefore  no  thought  for  the  morrow  ; for 
the  morrow  shall  take  thought  for  the  things  of 
itself  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof  ” 

11.  We  depend  too  much  011  tact  and  too 
little  on  God’s  spirit.  “ Open  thy  mouth 
and  I will  fill  it,”  is  a promise  that  applies 
to  more  places  than  a prayer  meeting,  I 
think. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Now  therefore  go , and  I will  be  with  thy  mouth , 
and  teach  thee  what  thou  shalt  say.” 


MARCH. 


31 


12.  “ I do  not  wonder  that,  looking  at  me, 
yon  have  grown  into  the  habit  of  thinking 
that  there  is  nothing  in  religion,”  she  said. 
“ You  have  looked  at  me,  not  at  Jesus,  and 
there  has  been  no  reflection  of  his  beauty 
in  me,  as  there  should  have  been,  and  the 
result  is  not  strange.” 

Ester  Ried. 

“ But  we  all , with  open  face  beholding  as  in  a 
glass  the  glory  of  the  Lord , are  changed  into  the  same 
image  from  glory  to  glory , even  as  by  the  spirit  of 
the  Lord” 

13.  I know  I love  the  Lord,  and  I know 
that  he  will  not  destroy  me,  for  I have  in 
my  heart  the  assurance  of  His  promise, 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ The  Lord preserveth  all  them  that  love  him:  but 
all  the  wicked  will  he  destroy.” 

14.  You  will  find  that  it  needs  precisely 
the  same  help  to  meet  trifles  that  it  does  to 
conquer  mountains  of  difficulty.  The  differ- 
ence is  in  degree,  not  in  kind. 

Ester  Ried. 

“ Surely  he  shall  deliver  thee  from  the  snare  of 
the  fowler , and  from  the  noisome  pestilence.” 


32 


MARCH. 


15.  “ Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord.” 
How  much  pleasanter  it  would  have  been  to 
have  committed  it  in  the  first  place,  before 
I wearied  my  heart  with  worrying  over 
what  I could  not  lift  my  finger  to  make 
different ! 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

0 holy  trust ! 0 endless  sense  of  rest ! 

Like  the  beloved  John 
To  lay  his  head  upon  the  Saviour's  breast , 

And  then  to  journey  on” 

16.  I believe  a consecrated  life  will  be 
honored  by  the  Lord  in  whatever  channel 
He  gives  it  talents  to  develop. 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ Say  ye  to  the  righteous  that  it  shall  be  well 
with  him.” 

17.  If  people  only  viould  influence  each 
other  just  as  much  as  they  could,  and  Just 
as  high  as  they  could,  what  a wonderful 
thing  this  living  would  be  ! 

A New  Graft. 

“ That  ye  may  be  blameless  and  harmless , the 
sons  of  God,  without  rebuke , in  the  midst  of  a 
crooked  and  perverse  nation , among  whom  ye  shine 
as  lights  in  the  world.” 


MARCH. 


33 


18.  There  are  ten  thousand  little  things 
no  more  important  in  themselves  than  brush- 
ing out  troublesome  flies,  or  shutting  out 
glaring  sunlight,  or  tidying  a slovenly  wash- 
stand,  or  cooling  a burning  forehead,  which 
can  be  used  as  nets  wherewith  to  catch 
poor,  tired,  homesick  fish. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

11  And  Jesus  said  unto  them , Come  ye  after  me, 
and  I will  make  you  to  become  fishers  of  men.” 

19.  Dear  friend,  whatever  you  are,  no 
matter  what  mistakes  you  have  made,  no 
matter  how  unfit  you  feel,  you  are  dear  to 
Christ  at  this  moment:  He  loves  you  and 
waits  for  you. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ I have  loved  thee  with  an  everlasting  love : there- 
fore with  lovingkindness- have  I drawn  thee” 

20.  Softly  there  came  another  voice. 
u What  of  all  that  ? ” it  said ; “ suppose 
nobody  cares  for  you,  or  helps  you  here. 
Jesus  died,  you  know,  and  He  is  your  friend.” 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ If  God  be  for  us  who  can  be  against  us?  ” 


34 


MARCH. 


21.  I have  an  all-absorbing,  a consuming 
ambition;  it  is  to  have  the  King  put  His 
hand  on  mine,  and  say,  “ Well  done,  good 
and  faithful  servant.”  I shall  not  be  con- 
tent without  the  commendation  promised 
to  those  who  faithfully  serve ; my  ambition 
craves  it. 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ In  the  light  of  the  king's  countenance  is  life ; 
and  his  favor  is  as  a cloud  of  the  latter  rain." 

22.  Of  course  you  cannot  help  these 
bitter  feelings ; do  you  suppose  He  expects 
you  to  do  so  ? If  you  could  make  your 
heart  right  yourself,  where  would  be  the 
need  of  His  help  ? 

Eighty-Seyen. 

11  0 my  God , incline  thine  ear , and  hear  ; . . . 

for  we  do  not  present  our  supplications  before  thee 
for  our  7*ighteous7iess,  but  for  thy  great  mercies ." 

23.  It  is  grand  to  think  that  even  the 
street-car  driver  can  drive  for  the  glory  of 
God. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ And  whatsoever  ye  do  in  word  or  deed , do  all  in 
the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus , giving  thanks  to  God 
and  the  Father  by  him." 


MARCH. 


35 


24.  “ Do  with  thy  might  whatsoever  thy 
hand  findeth  to  do,”  is  our  commission, 
you  know,  and’  in  order  to  find  things,  we 
have  to  look  for  them. 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ And  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee , hut  to 
do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy , and  to  walk  humbly 
with  thy  God?” 

25.  If  I belong  to  Christ,  I belong , don’t 
I ? There  is  no  half-way  service  possible. 
Why  do  I not  so  look  that  others  take 
knowledge  of  me  that  I have  been  with 
Jesus  ? 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ Because  that  which  may  he  known  of  God  is 
manifest  in  them;  for  God  hath  showed  it  unto 
them.” 

26.  Is  it  right  for  any  servant  of  the 
King  to  mingle  familiarly  for  an  afternoon 
with  others  who  either  are,  or  should  be, 
loyal  subjects,  and  not  make  a definite  im- 
pression for  the  King  ? 

A New  Graft. 

“ Only  let  your  conversation  he  as  hecometh  the 
Gospel  of  Christ  ” 


36 


MARCH. 


27.  If  one  would  be  sympathetic  with 
his  kind,  there  is  this  thing  always  to  re- 
member : it  is  much  easier  to  sit  in  a quiet 
room,  surrounded  with  an  atmosphere  of 
peace,  and  talk  about  the  petty  trials  of 
others,  and  the  duty  of  bearing  them  cheer- 
fully, than  it  is  to  belong  to  that  other  com- 
pany who  are  at  that  moment  in  the  heat  of 
the  conflict  between  duty  and  inclination. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ We  then  that  are  strong  ought  to  bear  the  in- 
firmities of  them  that  are  weak , and  not  to  please 
ourselves.” 


28.  Dear  friend,  I think  you  know  where 
to  look  for  help,  no  matter  what  your  trial 
or  burden;  whether  it  be  great  or  very 
small,  He  is  equally  ready  to  have  it  brought 
to  Him  and  left  there.  Why  don’t  you  ask 
His  help  ? You  are  one  of  His  own. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ The  Lord  thy  God  in  the  midst  of  thee  is  mighty ; 
he  voill  save , he  will  rejoice  over  thee  with  joy; 
he  will  rest  in  his  love , he  will  joy  over  thee  vnth 
singing.” 


MARCH. 


37 


29.  Hereafter  when  I feel  particularly 
tried  with  a person,  I shall  know  that  I am 
myself  at  fault  toward  that  person,  and 
shall  ask  God  for  a special  view  of  my  own 
heart  concerning  it. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Renew  a right  spirit  within  me.” 

30.  A great  deal  of  money  and  a great 
deal  of  force,  which  might  do  wonders  else- 
where, are  wasted  on  dress. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Whose  adorning  let  it  not  be  that  outward 
adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair , and  of  wearing  of 
gold , or  of  putting  on  of  apparel.” 

31.  The  fact  is,  that  to  sit  in  a pleasant 
room,  among  one’s  friends,  and  discuss  the 
inconsistencies  of  Christians,  is  one  thing ; 
and  to  go  out  into  the  world  in  the  thick  of 
the  fight,  and  live  consistently,  is  quite 
another. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Be  watchful , and  strengthen  the  things  which 
remain , that  are  ready  to  die : for  I have  not  found 
thy  works  perfect  before  God.” 


APEIL. 


1.  How  many  springtimes  have  you  gone 
to  your  bed  feeling  that  the  season  was  late, 
and  the  trees  were  bare,  and  the  fruits  would 
all  be  backward,  and  Nature  was  dawdling 
along  in  a very  wearisome  fashion ; and 
awakened  in  the  morning  to  find  that  there 
had  in  the  night  been  a gentle  rain,  and  a 
movement  of  mysterious  power  among  the 
buds  and  grasses,  and  that  now  in  the  morn- 
ing sunshine,  the  world  had  burst  into 
bloom  ? Yet,  did  you  really  suppose,  after 
all,  that  the  work  was  done  in  one  night  ? 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ For  as  the  earth  bring eth  forth  her  bud , and  the 
garden  causeth  the  things  that  are  sown  in  it  to 
spring  forth  ; so  the  Lord  God  will  cause  righteous- 
ness and  praise  to  spring  forth  before  all  the 
nations.” 

2.  Since  God  has  called  us  to  honorable 
positions,  even  to  be  “ co-laborers,”  shall  we 
not  rejoice  in  the  honor  ? 

A New  Graft. 

“ For  we  are  laborers  together  with  God.” 

38 


APRIL. 


39 


3.  It  is  my  joy  that  He  has  not  separated 
any  moment  of  my  life  from  Him,  saying, 
“Here  is  so  much  drudgery  each  day,  from 
which  I must  be  entirely  separated ; then, 
when  that  is  done,  you  may  serve  me.” 
Work  so  divided  would  be  drudgery  indeed. 

A New  Graft. 

“ For  in  him  we  live , and  move , and  have  our 
being.” 

4.  How  many  people  have  such  marked 
and  abiding  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  that  when 
we  talk  of  them  we  say,  “ I heard  that  Miss 
So  and  So  had  the  most  implicit  faith  in 
the  power  of  Christ  to  keep  her  ” ? How 
wouldn’t  that  be  a strange  thing  to  say  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“We  heard  of  your  faith  in  Christ  Jesus.” 

5.  A great  sorrow  is  a wonderful  edu- 
cator. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ For  it  became  him,  for  whom  are  all  things , and 
by  whom  are  all  things , in  bringing  many  sons  unto 
glory , to  make  the  captain  of  tlieir  salvation  perfect 
through  sufferings .” 


40 


APRIL. 


6.  It  is,  perhaps,  to  be  questioned 
whether  loneliness  is,  after  all,  demoralizing 
in  its  effects. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

11  Now  no  chastening  for  the  present  seemeth  to  be 
joyous , but  grievous : nevertheless  afterward  it 
yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness  unto 
them  which  are  exercised  thereby .” 

7.  What  a thing  it  would  be  to  be  high 
in  favor  with  God;  to  be  so  familiar  at 
court  that  you  could  present  a friend  there, 
without  a fear  or  doubt  as  to  the  result. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ Elias  was  a man  subject  to  like  passions  as  we 
are , and  he  prayed  earnestly  that  it  might  not  rain  : 
and  it  rained  not  on  the  earth  by  the  space  of  three 
years  and  six  months. 

And  he  prayed  again , and  the  heaven  gave  rain , 
and  the  earth  brought  forth  her  fruit  .” 

8.  It  is  possible  that  you  have  not  come 
in  close  contact  with  Christ’s  intimate 
friends.  There  are  degrees  in  friendship, 
you  know. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Ye  are  my  friends , if  ye  do  whatsoever  I com- 
mand you.” 


APRIL. 


41 


9.  “In  my  Father’s  house  are  many 
mansions ; I go  to  prepare  a place  for  you.” 

After  all,  that  is  the  place  for  brightness. 
This  is  only  a way  station ; never  mind  the 
discomforts,  so  that  many  are  helped  to  the 
right  road  and  the  home  be  reached  at  last, 
in  peace. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ When  the  shore  is  icon  at  last, 

Who  will  count  the  billows  past  ?” 

10.  Unpaid  vows  ! — only  think  of  it. 
Isn’t  it  startling  when  we  remember  to  whom 
they  are  due  ? 

The  Randolphs. 

“ When  thou  vowest  a vow  unto  God,  defer  not  to 
pay  it ; for  he  hath  no  pleasure  in  fools  : pay  that 
which  thou  hast  voiced .” 

11.  That  very  kettle  which  gives  you 
Monday  morning  trouble  can  help  you  to 
a first  victory : and  it  is  a symbol  of  all 
the  other  things,  small  in  themselves,  but 
amounting  to  much,  counted  together,  that 
can  be  made  to  serve  you  to-day. 

A New  Graft. 

“ And  hast  borne,  and  hast  patience,  and  for  my 
name's  sake  hast  laboured,  and  hast  not  fainted," 


42 


APRIL. 


12.  He  made  the  plants  and  flowers  — 
created  their  beauty  for  them,  I mean,  be- 
cause they  are  soulless  things  — He  left  to 
us  who  are  immortal,  a great  deal  of  the 
fashioning  to  do  for  ourselves. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Finally,  brethren , whatsoever  things  are  true , 
whatsoever  things  are  honest , whatsoever  things  are 
just , whatsoever  things  are  pure , whatsoever  things 
are  lovely,  vihatsoever  things  are  of  good  report; 
if  there  be  any  virtue , and  if  there  be  any  praise, 
think  on  these  things .” 

13.  What  we  need  most  to  overcome  is 
the  idea  that  there  is  anything  wicked  in 
talking  about  religion  in  an  everyday  tone, 
as  we  talk  about  other  topics  of  absorbing 
interest. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Talk  ye  of  all  his  wondrous  works.” 

14.  If  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  can  forgive 
him,  I think  we  ought  to  be  able  to  do  so.” 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ And  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tenderhearted, 
forgiving  one  another,  even  as  God  for  Christ's  sake 
hath  forgiven  you.” 


APRIL. 


43 


15.  Isn’t  it  all  different  forms  of  the 
Master’s  work  ? The  children  of  the  home 
may  have  each  a different  task,  hut  each  is 
needed  to  make  the  home  what  it  should  be, 
and  each  worker  needs  the  same  spirit  of 
love  and  unselfishness  to  enable  him  to  do 
his  part. 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ For  as  we  have  many  members  in  one  body , and 
all  members  have  not  the  same  office : 

So  we,  being  many,  are  one  body  in  Christ,  and 
every  one  members  one  of  another .” 

16.  A Christian  home  ! It  cannot  simply 
mean  a home  where  Christ  is  honored.  It 
rather  means  a home  where  everything  per- 
taining to  it  serves  His  cause.  The  very 
furniture,  and  the  light  and  the  brightness 
are  made  to  do  duty  for  Him,  else  they  have 
no  place  there.  What  is  there  that  I can 
do  with  all  the  beauties  of  my  parlors  ? 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ For  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man 
dietli  to  himself 

For  whether  we  live,  we  live  unto  the  Lord:  and 
whether  we  die,  we  die  unto  the  Lord:  whether  we 
live  therefore,  or  die,  we  are  the  Lord's.” 


44 


APRIL. 


17.  What  an  immense  book  the  history 
of  a human  life  would  make  ! Probably  no 
one  will  ever  know  how  large  a volume  it 
would  be,  for  no  one  will  ever  write  it. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“And  there  are  also  many  other  things  which 
Jesus  did,  the  which,  if  they  should  he  written  every 
one,  I suppose  that  even  the  world  itself  could  not 
contain  the  hooks  that  should  he  written .” 

18.  If  we  want  to  hear  how  living,  grow- 
ing Christians  talk,  we  must  frequent  the 
places  where  we  shall  be  likely  to  find  them. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Then  they  that  feared  the  Lord  spake  often  one 
to  another : and  the  Lord  hearkened,  and  heard  it, 
and  a hook  of  remembrance  was  written  before  him 
for  them  that  feared  the  Lord,  and  that  thought 
upon  his  name.” 

19.  The  One  who  made  such  lovely  plants 
and  finished  them  so  exquisitely,  must  be 
pleased  to  see  us  study  enough  of  His  works 
to  make  ourselves  look  pleasing  to  the  eyes 
of  others. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ He  hath  made  everything  beautiful  in  his  time.” 


APRIL. 


45 


20.  He  made  some  mistakes;  for  he 
fancied,  in  his  ignorance,  that  the  struggle 
was  over  — that  he  had  only  to  go  forward 
joyfully  over  a pleasant  road. 

He  found  out  his  mistake;  he  discovered 
that  Satan  had  not  by  any  means  given  him 
up ; that  he  must  yet  fight  many  hard,  hard 
battles. 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith , lay  hold  on  eternal 
life , whereunto  thou  art  also  called , and  hast  pro- 
fessed a good  profession  before  many  witnesses” 


21.  I wonder  when  the  world  will  learn 
that  promises  are  solemn  things,  and  that 
living  is  serious  business,  and  that  when 
we  are  young  we  are  not  called  upon  to  de- 
cide questions  which  belong  to  mature 
judgments. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ Bejoice,  0 young  man , in  thy  youth;  and  let 
thy  heart  cheer  thee  in  the  days  of  thy  youth , and 
walk  in  the  ways  of  thine  heart , and  in  the  sight  of 
thine  eyes : but  know  thou , for  all  these  things  God 
will  bring  thee  into  judgment.” 


46 


APRIL. 


22.  “ Go  ye  into  all  tlie  world  and  preach 
the  Gospel  to  every  creature.”  In  the  same 
breath,  to  comfort  His  children,  He  said, 
“ Lo,  I am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the 
end  of  the  world.”  The  disciples  to  whom 
He  then  spoke,  have  been  in  His  visible 
presence  for  hundreds  of  years,  and  the 
world  is  not  yet  ended ; the  comfort  lasts 
yet,  and  so,  therefore,  must  the  commission. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ My  heart  repeats  the  promise  o'er  and  o'er , 

Though  'tis  an  ‘ old , old  story ' heard  before , 

Yet  with  each  dear  repeating  loved  the  more . 

Be  lighted  from  within , by  unseen  Guest , 

Send  out  warm  rays  of  love  to  all  distrest , 

And  lure  them  by  your  shining  into  rest," 

23.  Do  I think  you  can  so  love  Christ 
that  whatever  sacrifices  of  personal  ease  or 
comfort  you  may  make  for  His  sake  will 
become  so  much  a joy  as  to  cease  to  be 
claimed  under  the  head  of  sacrifice  ? 

Aye,  indeed,  there  is  a higher  plane  than 
sacrifice. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Yet  if  any  man  suffer  as  a Christian , let  him 
not  be  ashamed ; but  let  him  glorify  God  on  this 
behalf" 


APRIL. 


47 


24.  When  a sensible  person  has  made  a 
misstep,  the  thing  for  him  is  to  nndo  as 
much  of  the  mischief  as  he  can  ; as  quickly 
as  he  can;  it  is  the  only  way  he  has  of 
showing  the  difference  between  himself  and 
a fool. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ The  way  of  a fool  is  right  in  his  own  eyes : hut 
he  that  hearkeneth  unto  counsel  is  wise” 

“ Hath  not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this 
world  ?” 

25.  We  must  guard  against  a temptation 
to  do  evil,  that  good  may  come. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ What  shall  we  say  then , Shall  ice  continue  in 
sin , that  grace  may  abound  ? 

God  forbid.  How  shall  we , that  are  dead  to  sin , 
live  any  longer  therein  ?” 

26.  There  are  a great  many  sensible  peo- 
ple in  the  world,  and  the  world  does  not 
love  them  at  all,  and  half  of  the  time  it  is 
their  own  foolish  fault  for  being  so  “ cranky  ” 
over  trifles. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ For  ye  pay  tithe  of  mint  and  anise  and  cummin .” 


48 


APKIL. 


27.  If  I were  to  talk  with  one  of  my 
friends  who  is  not  acquainted  with  you, 
and  tell  her  how  kind  you  were,  and  how 
interested  in  all  young  people,  and  how 
pleasant  and  helpful  you  were,  it  doesn’t 
seem  to  me  that  I should  prejudice  her 
against  you.  Why  should  I feel  afraid  of 
prejudicing  them  against  my  Saviour  ? 

A New  Graft. 

“ Acquaint  novo  thyself  with  him , and  he  at  peace : 
thereby  good  shall  come  unto  thee** 

28.  Knowing  that  you  ought  to  feel  dif- 
ferently, there  is  just  one  thing  you  can  do, 
it  is  your  part;  you  can  give  that  heart 
which  is  full  of  hard  feelings  and  self-will 
and  bitterness,  into  the  Lord’s  hands,  and 
tell  Him  you  want  it  to  be  made  a fit  place 
for  him. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Purge  me  with  hyssop , and  I shall  he  clean: 
wash  me,  and  I shall  he  whiter  than  snow .” 

29.  When  I am  conversing  with  any 
person  what  is  my  habitual  theme  ? 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ What  manner  of  communications  are  these  that 
ye  have  one  to  another  f 99 


APRIL. 


49 


30.  How  hard  it  must  be  for  the  Great 
Physician  to  bear  with  us  in  our  determina- 
tion to  think  of  His  love  and  care  for  us  as 
only  a piece  of  that  which  He  bears  for  the 
great  multitudes,  instead  of  individualizing 
it  as  He  constantly  teaches  us  to  do,  and 
accepting  Him  as  caring  for  us  with  even 
more  of  the  exclusive  tenderness  of  love 
which  we  give  to  our  own. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ I have  called  thee  by  thy  name  ; thou  art  mine 


MAY. 


1.  What  gorgeous  coloring  and  delicate 
tracery  in  the  leaves ! Does  it  ever  occur 
to  you  to  wonder  that  such  great  skill  should 
have  been  expended  in  just  making  them 
look  pretty  to  please  our  eyes  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Sing  unto  him,  sing  psalms  unto  him:  talk  ye 
of  all  his  wondrous  ivorks .” 

2.  “ Who  sweeps  a room  as  for  thy  law, 

Makes  that,  and  the  action, fine.” 

I am  glad  the  grand  old  author  said  that. 
And  yet,  an  older  and  grander  Author  said 
it  better : “ Whosoever  giveth  a cup  of  cold 
water.” 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ Thy  thoughts  are  very  deep .” 

3.  What  if  the  Holy  Spirit  has  sug- 
gested it,  and  will  give  you  a message  which 
He  knows  can  reach  a stranger,  and  draw 
him  home  ? 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Thou  gavest  also  thy  good  spirit  to  instruct 
them.” 


50 


MAY. 


51 


4.  And  you  think  that  Jesus  Christ  has 
nothing  to  do  with  the  black  kettle,  and  the 
boiler,  or  the  sink,  or  a dozen  other  things 
with  which  you  will  come  in  contact  to- 
day ? That  is  such  a mistake.  Bemember 
it  is  He  who  said,  “ Whether  therefore  ye 
eat,  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to 
the  glory  of  God.” 

A New  Graft. 

“ For  your  heavenly  Father  knoweth  that  ye  have 
need  of  all  these  things .” 

5.  Justified!  Hot  because  I have  done 
right ; not  because  my  judgment  is  correct ; 
not  because  of  any  act  of  mine  in  any  direc- 
tion save  that  one  of  trusting  in  my  Lord, 
justified  by  faith  ! 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Therefore  being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace 
with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ .” 

6.  What  should  you  conclude  as  to 
Christian  duty  in  the  matter  of  daily  con- 
versation ? 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ But  as  he  which  hath  called  you  is  holy , so  be 
ye  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation .” 


52 


MAY. 


7.  It  is  a strange  thing,  but  how  can  we 
help  believing  it  to  be  actually  the  case, 
that  people  who  would  be  shocked  at  the 
idea  of  violating  their  word  given  to  their 
fellow-men  yet  seem  to  ignore,  without  much 
trouble  of  conscience,  the  most  solemn  obli- 
gation made  to  God ! 

The  Randolphs. 

“ Take  heed  unto  yourselves,  lest  you  forget  the 
covenant  of  the  Lord  your  God .” 

8.  There  is  a sunlight  so  high  and  strong 
that  the  clouds  of  this  world  cannot  reach 
it. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ But  ye  are  a chosen  generation , a royal  priest- 
hood, aholy  nation,  a peculiar  people  ; that  ye  should 
shew  forth  the  praises  of  him  who  hath  called  you 
out  of  darkness  into  his  marvelous  light.” 

9.  I try  to  remember  that  Christ  knows 
it  all,  and  he  loves  me,  and  he  is  all-power- 
ful ; and  yet  he  leads  me  through  this  dark 
road  ; therefore  it  must  be  right. 

Ester  Ried. 

“ Nevertheless  the  foundation  of  God  standeth 
sure,  having  this  seal,  The  Lord  knoweth  them  that 
are  his.” 


MAY. 


53 


10.  He  will  not  come  into  a divided 
heart ; a heart  which  says,  “ In  some  things 
I will  obey ; but  in  this,  and  this,  and  this, 
I must  have  my  own  way.” 

You  would  not  expect  even  a human  friend 
who  had  the  right  to  direct  you,  to  accept 
such  a position  as  that,  would  you  ? How 
much  less  the  Lord  ? 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ No  man  can  serve  two  masters:  for  either  he 
will  hate  the  one  and  love  the  other  ; or  else  he  will 
hold  to  the  one  and  despise  the  other . Ye  cannot 
serve  God  and  mammon .” 


11.  I believe  that  religion  should  have 
sufficient  power  over  us  to  change  all  our 
tastes  and  plans  in  life,  fitting  them  to  the 
Saviour’s  use. 

Ester  Hied  Yet  Speaking. 

“ That  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith ; 
that  ye , being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love, 

May  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints  what 
is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height ; 

And  to  know  the  love  of  Christ  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the  full- 
ness of  God .” 


54 


MAY. 


12.  One  could  not  live  long  in  this  world 
without  realizing  the  forcefulness  of  the 
sentence : “ Every  heart  knoweth  its  own 
bitterness.”  Behind  the  sunniest,  appar- 
ently most  enviable  life,  the  bitterness 
hides. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ When  thou  passest  through  the  waters , I will  he 
with  thee  : when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou 
shalt  not  he  burned;  neither  shall  the  flame  kindle 
upon  thee” 

13.  Will  you  open  the  door  for  Jesus  to 
come  in,  by  telling  Him  that  your  heart  is 
all  wrong,  and  you  want  it  made  right  ? 
Just  as  you  would  tell  me,  if  I had  assured 
you  that  I was  both  able  and  willing  to  do 
all  the  rest  for  you. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ And  the  Lord  direct  your  hearts  into  the  love  of 
God,  and  into  the  patient  waiting  for  Christ.” 

14.  Are  these  too  small  for  His  notice, 
when  He  Himself  refers  us  to  the  fading 
wild  flowers  for  lessons  ? 

A New  Graft. 

“ The  grass  ivithereth,  and  the  flower  thereof 
falleth  away : 

But  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth  forever.” 


MAY. 


55 


15.  He  sees  tlie  way  plainly  and  He  will 
lead  us  right  through  the  thickets  to  the 
sunlight  of  his  eternal  presence. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ But  there  the  glorious  Lord  will  be  to  us  a place 
of  broad  rivers  and  streams ; wherein  shall  no  gal- 
ley with  oars , neither  shall  gallant  ships  pass 
thereby” 

16.  I really  believe  that  the  Lord,  when 
He  said,  “ Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto 
you,  good  measure,  pressed  down  and  shaken 
together,  and  running  over,  shall  men  give 
into  your  bosom,”  meant  just  what  he  said. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ There  hath  not  failed  one  word  of  all  his  good 
promise.” 

17.  “ She  impresses  me  as  one  who  is 
being  led ; who  does  not  choose  to  go  alone, 
has  not  learned  how,  indeed.  A very  few 
Christians  never  learn  how,  and  with  them 
the  Lord  does  his  special  work.” 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear 
him;  and  he  will  show  them  his  covenant.” 


56 


MAY. 


18.  There  may  be  loneliness  and  a reach- 
ing out  after,  and  sometimes  an  unutterable 
longing  for  the  morning,  but  to  those  who 
are  sure,  sure  beyond  the  possibility  of  a 
doubt,  that  the  eternal  morning  will  dawn, 
and  dawn  for  them,  there  is  never  again  a 
desolation. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

u Weeping  may  endure  for  a night , hut  joy  cometh 
in  the  morning  " 


19.  It  is  God’s  world,  and  He  made  your 
little  children.  You  may  be  sure  He  has  a 
place  for  them,  both  in  this  world  and  in 
Heaven. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Fear  not , little  flock ; for  it  is  your  Father's 
good  pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom .” 


20.  Oh  ! to  know  for  a certainty  whether 
some  who  have  a name  to  live,  are  really 
alive;  and  so  be  at  rest  about  them. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ I have  no  greater  joy  than  to  hear  that  my  chil- 
dren walk  in  truth." 


MAY. 


57 


21.  She  envied  their  free  and  easy  life, 
without  a care  to  harass  them,  as  it  seemed 
to  her. 

If  she  had  but  thought,  she  had  a robe, 
and  a crown,  and  a harp,  and  a place  wait- 
ing for  her,  up  before  the  throne  of  God ; 
and  all  they  had  not . 

Ester  Hied. 

“ Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  forme  a crown  of 
righteousness , which  the  Lord , the  righteous  judge, 
shall  give  me  at  that  day : and  not  to  me  only,  but 
unto  all  them  also  that  love  his  appearing. ” 

22.  If  God  from  his  infinite  height,  can 
look  down  upon  all  the  world,  having  the 
same  wonderful,  patient,  persistent  love  for 
all  mankind,  what  am  I that  I should  not 
give  my  utmost  strength  for  the  poorest  and 
meanest  of  His  creatures  ? 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ For  if  there  come  into  your  assembly  a man 
with  a gold  ring,  in  goodly  apparel,  and  there  come 
in  also  a poor  man  in  vile  raiment ; 

And  ye  have  respect  to  him  that  weareth  the  gay 
clothing,  and  say  unto  him.  Sit  thou  here  in  a good 
place ; and  say  to  the  poor,  Stand  thou  there,  or  sit 
here  under  my  footstool : Are  ye  not  then  partial  in 
yourselves,  and  are  become  judges  of  evil  thoughts  f” 


58 


MAY. 


23.  We  are  all  set  apart,  given  to  Him 
to  use  as  He  will.  The  trouble  is  that  so 
many  of  us  take  back  the  gifts,  and  use  our 
time  and  our  tongues  as  though  they  were 
our  own. 

Ester  Hied  Yet  Speaking. 

“ Ye  are  not  your  own. 

“ For  ye  are  bought  with  a price  : therefore  glorify 
God  in  your  body , and  in  your  spirit , which  are 
God's.” 

24.  A thing  that  can  possibly  lead  one 
to  eternal  death,  a Christian  has  no  business 
to  meddle  with,  even  if  he  knows  of  but  one 
soul  in  a million  years  that  has  been  so 
wrecked. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ And  through  thy  knowledge  shall  the  weak 
brother  perish , for  whom  Christ  died  ? ” 

25.  I am  not  giving  my  own  money  ; it 
is  His,  and  He  lets  me  spend  it  on  His  work. 
If  it  were  mine  I might  be  tempted  to  spend 
it  on  myself ; but  since  it  belongs  to  Him,  of 
course  it  is  a mere  act  of  common  honesty 
to  give  it  back  to  Him. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ The  silver  is  mine , and  the  gold  is  mine , saith 
the  Lord  of  Hosts.” 


MAY. 


59 


26.  Isn’t  it  a pity  in  this  carping  world 
we  cannot  oftener  put  ourselves  in  other 
people’s  places,  mentally,  at  least,  and  try 
to  discover  how  we  should  probably  feel, 
and  talk,  and  act,  were  we  surrounded  by 
their  circumstances  and  biased  by  their 
educations  ? 

A New  Graft. 

“ Bejoice  with  them  that  do  rejoice , and  weep 
with  them  that  weep .” 

27.  When  we  do  not  see  the  way  clearly ; 
when  we  are  beset  with  difficulties ; when 
disappointments  thicken  around  us,  we  can 
still  look  up  to  God  and  say,  “ Up  there, 
where  Father  is,  it  is  peace.” 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ And  the  peace  of  God , which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  through 
Christ  Jesus” 

28.  It  would  be  a pity  to  get  ready  for 
only  one  world  when  the  other  is  so  near  by. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Provide  yourself  bags  which  wax  not  old,  a 
treasure  in  the  heavens  that  faileth  not,  where  no 
thief  approacheth,  neither  moth  corrupteth” 


60 


MAY. 


29.  We  are  at  work  for  immortal  souls. 
Think  of  it ! they  must  live  forever.  Shall 
they,  through  all  eternity,  keep  dropping 
lower  and  lower,  or  shall  they  wear  crowns  ? 

Ester  Hied  Yet  Speaking. 

“ And  many  of  them  that  sleep  in  the  dust  of  the 
earth  shall  awake , some  to  everlasting  life , and  some 
to  shame  and  everlasting  contempt .” 

30.  It  is  the  trifling  sacrifices  that  pinch. 
One  can  do  a great  thing  now  and  then,  that 
he  knows  people  will  admire,  even  though 
he  has  no  such  selfish  motive  in  doing  it, 
still  it  helps  and  cheers,  to  know  that  an 
appreciative  world  looks  on  and  says  : “ That 
was  well  done  ! ” But  to  go  without  a new 
dress  all  winter  — to  go  to  church,  and  to 
society,  and  occasionally  to  a tea-party,  wear- 
ing the  cashmere  or  alpaca  that  has  done 
duty  as  best  for  two  years,  and  do  it  for  the 
sake  of  the  church,  and  say  nothing  about 
it,  and  know  that  people  are  ignorant  of  the 
reason,  and  feel  that  they  are  wondering 
whether  you  are  aware  that  your  dress  be- 
gins to  look  “ rusty  ” — that  is  sacrifice. 

Miss  Priscilla  Hunter. 

“ She  shall  be  brought  unto  the  king  in  raiment 
of  needlework . ” 


MAY. 


61 


31.  You  speak  the  truth  earnestly,  for- 
cibly, and  with  strong  common  sense  on 
your  side,  but  the  verse  says,  “speaking 
the  truth  in  love.’”  And  don’t  you  know 
that  that  part  of  it  you  have  a way  of  keep- 
ing hidden  in  your  heart,  so  that  the  truth 
sometimes  wounds  where  you  would  have  it 
heal  ? 

The  Randolphs. 

“ By  pureness,  by  knowledge,  by  long  suffering , by 
kindness,  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  love  unfeigned .” 


JUNE. 


1.  Some  of  our  dear  Christian  ladies 
have  but  just  heard  a faint  echo  of  His 
call,  “ Go  ye  into  all  the  world,”  though  it 
has  been  sounding  for  centuries.  There  are 
many  of  them  standing  now  on  the  thresh- 
old, dazed  with  the  echo,  scarcely  knowing 
if  it  can  possibly  mean  them,  and  seeing 
sacrifice  and  burden  where  one  day  they 
will  “ count  it  all  joy.” 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

‘ I dare  not  work  my  soul  to  save , 

That  work  my  Lord  has  done  ; 

But  I will  work  like  any  slave 
For  the  love  of  God's  dear  Son." 

2.  Graves  seem  to  me  hard  things  to 
leave.  People  who  are  alive,  and  from 
whom  I can  hear,  and  to  whom  I can  write 
long  letters,  are  different ; but,  someway,  one 
holds  on  to  graves  and  wants  to  be  near  them. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ Then  the  disciples  went  away  unto  their  own 
home.  But  Mary  stood  without  at  the  sepulchre 
weeping : and  as  she  wept , she  stooped  down , and 
looked  into  the  sepulchre .” 

62 


JUNE. 


63 


3.  I wonder  if  people  realize  that  they 
can  arrange  flowers  in  such  a manner  as  to 
glorify  the  Lord  of  the  garden. 

My  Daughter  Susan. 

“ Let  my  beloved  come  into  his  garden .” 

4.  Just  think  of  that  ivy,  it  would  have 
grown  as  rapidly  and  been  quite  as  healthy 
if  the  leaves  had  been  square,  and  all  of 
them  an  intense  green,  instead  of  being 
shaded  into  that  lovely  dark  scalloped  bor- 
der all  around  the  outer  edge. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ 0 Lord , how  manifold  are  thy  works!  in  ivis- 
dom  hast  thou  made  them  all : the  earth  is  full  of 
thy  riches” 

5.  It  seems  blessed  to  think  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  took  such  minute  notice  of  our 
human  nature  that  he  knew  it  would  help 
us  to  be  allowed  to  keep  a subject  constantly 
before  Him,  and  to  keep  coaxing  about  it. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ I say  unto  you , Though  he  will  not  rise  and 
give  him , because  he  is  his  friend,  yet  because  of  his 
importunity  he  will  rise  and  give  him  as  many  as 
he  needeth.” 


64 


JUNE. 


6.  The  Lord  sees  the  heart ; and  little 
seeds  of  loving  kindness  to  one’s  neighbor, 
whether  he  be  next  door  or  across  the  ocean, 
may  be  in  many  hearts,  unknown  to  us. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ For  the  Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and  under • 
standeth  all  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts ” 

7.  I have  often  looked  forward  to  an 
evening  gathering  with  eager  interest  and 
thankfulness,  because  of  the  opportunity 
for  meeting  some  there  whom  I could  not 
catch  elsewhere  and  saying  a word  for  my 
Master. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ In  the  morning  soiv  thy  seed,  and  in  the  evening 
withhold  not  thine  hand:  for  thou  knowest  not 
whether  shall  prosper,  either  this  or  that,  or  whether 
they  both  shall  be  alike  good” 

8.  Was  it  possible  that  the  Divine  Phy- 
sician saw  her  need  of  such  bitter  herbs  as 
these  which  had  fallen  to  her  lot  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ As  many  as  I love,  I rebuke  and  chasten ; be 
zealous,  therefore,  and  repent” 


JUNE. 


65 


9.  You  and  I know  and  feel  that  we 
must  give  an  account  of  our  stewardship. 
Do  you  see  how  people  who  ask  God  to 
help  them  in  every  little  thing  which  they 
have  to  decide  — in  the  least  expenditure  of 
money  — can  after  that  deliberately  fritter 
it  away  ? 

Ester  Ried. 

11  So  then  every  one  of  ns  shall  give  account  of 
himself  to  Gocl” 

10.  The  heart  of  Christ  is  for  each,  as  if 
each  were  alone  in  all  the  world  the  object 
of  His  care. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Yet  will  I not  forget  thee” 

11.  It  was  pitiful  to  see  how  she  clung 
to  her  poor  little  rag  that  she  had  called 
religion,  and  felt  as  though  if  she  should 
actually  let  go  and  say,  “ I am  not  a Chris- 
tian,” it  would  be  a settled  doom  to  her, 
and  yet — how  could  it  be  that  she  knew 
anything  experimentally  about  this  matter, 
to  have  lived  the  life  she  had  ? 

The  Randolphs. 

“ I know  thy  works , that  thou  hast  a name  that 
thou  livest , and  art  dead” 


66 


JUNE. 


12.  Do  you  think  that  Christians  whose 
rule  of  life  reads  “ Whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all 
to  the  glory  of  God,”  have  any  right  to  go 
to  social  gatherings,  or  anywhere  else,  sepa- 
rated from  this  end  ? 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ In  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him , and  he  shall 
direct  thy  paths .” 

13.  Didn’t  you  give  Him  your  tongue 
when  you  gave  Him  yourself  ? And  yet 
you  are  fortunate  if  you  have  not  dis- 
honored Him  with  it  many  a time. 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ Be  not  rash  with  thy  mouth,  and  let  not  thine 
heart  he  hasty  to  utter  anything  before  God:  for 
God  is  in  heaven,  and  thou  upon  earth : therefore 
let  thy  words  be  few.” 

14.  It  is  easier  to  do  things  which  you 
like,  and  which  in  a sense  are  natural  to 
you,  than  it  is  to  do  what  goes  utterly 
against  the  selfish  side  of  your  nature. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ For  all  seek  their  own,  not  the  things  which  are 
Jesus  Christ's.” 


JUNE. 


67 


15.  “ Who  shall  roll  us  away  the  stone  ? ” 
They  worried  a great  deal  about  that  stone, 
how  they  would  get  it  rolled  away,  and 
when  they  got  there  it  was  gone.  I’ll  re- 
member that ; when  I see  a stone  ahead  of 
me  I won’t  stop  and  fret  about  it ; I’ll  walk 
straight  up  to  it,  and  when  I get  there 
maybe  it  will  roll  out  of  my  way. 

Tip  Lewis  and  His  Lamp. 

“ The  angel  of  the  Lord  descended  from  heaven , 
and  came  and  rolled  hack  the  stone  from  the  door , 
and  sat  upon  it” 


16.  They  aren’t  worth  lifting  a finger 
for.  And  yet,  how  can  I help  remembering 
that  if  the  Lord  Jesus  had  said  that  of  us, 
and  stayed  up  there  in  His  glory,  we  should 
have  been  utterly  without  help  or  hope 
to-day  ? 

Ester  E-ied  Yet  Speaking. 

“ For  scarcely  for  a righteous  man  will  one  die  : 
yet  peradventure  for  a good  man  some  would  even 
dare  to  die. 

But  God  commendeth  his  love  toward  us,  in  that , 
while  we  were  yet  sinners , Christ  died  for  us.” 


68 


JUNE. 


17.  “He  maketh  the  wrath  of  man  to 
praise  him.” 

I suppose  He  can  make  the  blunderings 
of  men,  and  of  women,  too,  do  the  same. 
We  must  just  leave  it  with  Him , and  try 
again. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Who  shall  change  our  vile  body , that  it  may  be 
fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body , according  to 
the  working  ichereby  he  is  able  even  to  subdue  all 
things  unto  himself” 

18.  An  awakened  conscience  toyed  with, 
is  a very  fruitful  source  of  misery. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ And  herein  do  I exercise  myself , to  have  always 
a conscience  void  of  offence  toward  God , and  toward 
men.” 

19.  I bless  Him  that  I may  constantly 
serve,  whether  I am  wiping  the  dust  from 
my  table,  or  whether  I am  on  my  knees. 

A New  Graft. 

“ With  good  will , doing  service , as  to  the  Lord , 
and  not  to  men.” 


JUNE. 


69 


20.  “ My  grace  is  sufficient,”  not  for  my 
saints  only  — those  who  have  been  faithful 
and  successful  — but  for  thee . 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Fear  thou  not ; for  I am  with  thee  : he  not  dis- 
mayed; for  I am  thy  God : I will  strengthen  thee ; 
yea , I will  help  thee;  yea , I will  uphold  thee  with 
the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness.” 

21.  I doubt  whether  we  should  wait 
always  for  clear  ways ; perhaps  we  are  ex- 
pected to  go  creeping  along  in  the  dark. 
Satan  has  ways,  and  doesn’t  scruple  to  use 
them. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ For  I the  Lord  thy  God  ivill  hold  thy  right 
hand , saying  unto  thee , Fear  not;  I will  help 
thee.” 

22.  “Leaving  ns  an  example,  that  ye 
should  follow  his  steps.”  The  true  pattern 
is  certainly  perfect ; why  not  follow  that  ? 
Who  ever  asks  the  schoolboy  to  imitate  the 
scrawl  of  some  fellow  pupil,  so  long  as  the 
perfect  copy  is  just  before  his  eyes,  at  the 
top  of  the  page  ? 

A New  Graft. 

“ Be  ye  followers  of  God , as  dear  children.” 


70 


JUNE. 


23.  Nothing  that  you  or  I can  do  can 
possibly  make  one  sin  white,  one  mistake 
as  though  it  had  not  been,  give  one  moment 
of  rest  to  a troubled  heart.  But  the  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ  can  do  all  this. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us 
from  all  sin.” 

24.  She  did  not  realize  the  feeling,  and 
yet  she  possessed  somewhat  of  the  same 
spirit  of  the  child  who  prayed:  “Dear 
Jesus,  help  me  to  be  good  to-day.  I know 
I can  be  good  if  I try,  and  I intend  to  try, 
but  you  can  help  me  if  you  want  to  ! ” 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ For  thou , Lord , only  makest  me  dwell  in 
safety.” 


25.  I have  met  people  who,  it  seemed  to 
me,  would  rather  trust  their  “rainy  day 
fund 99  than  the  Lord. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

11  If  I have  made  gold  my  hope , or  have  said  to 
the  fine  gold , Thou  art  my  confidence : This  also 
were  an  iniquity  to  be  punished  by  the  judge : fur  I 
should  have  denied  the  God  that  is  above.” 


JUNE. 


71 


26.  I should  never  have  dared  to  assume 
the  cares  and  responsibilities  of  our  home 
if  I had  not  known  that  I could  go  to  Christ 
for  direction  as  to  how  to  wisely  spend  the 
money  He  put  into  my  hands,  and  how  to 
order  all  my  affairs  so  that  there  would  be 
no  friction. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Cast  tliy  burden  upon  the  Lord , and  he  shall 
sustain  thee : he  shall  never  suffer  the  righteous  to 
be  moved.” 


27.  The  veriest  child  can  be  a witness  if 
he  knows  any  thing  about  the  facts ; and  I 
do  certainly  know  some  wonderful  things 
about  Jesus  to  which  I could  witness ; and 
besides,  isn’t  it  reasonable  to  suppose  that 
He  will  appear  to  me  every  day  with  things 
for  me  to  witness  to  ? 

Ester  Hied  Yet  Speaking. 

“ I have  appeared  unto  thee  for  this  purpose , to 
make  thee  a minister  and  a witness,  both  of  these 
things  which  thou  hast  seen,  and  of  those  things  in 
which  I will  appear  unto  thee.” 


72 


JUNE. 


28.  Rewards  for  petty  sacrifices  are  often 
so  slow  to  come  that  it  is  not  uncommon  for 
lives  to  pass  out  into  the  future  without 
receiving  a word  or  glance  of  recompense. 
But  there  are  occasional  other  experiences. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Therefore , my  beloved  brethren , be  ye  steadfast , 
unmovable , always  abounding  in  the  viork  of  the 
Lord,  for  as  much  as  ye  know  that  your  labor  is  not 
in  vain  in  the  Lord” 

29.  It  is  a question  whether  we  have 
any  right  to  indulge  in  an  amusement  that 
has  the  power  to  lead  people  astray,  espe- 
cially when  it  is  impossible  to  tell  what 
boy  may  be  growing  up  under  that  influence 
to  whom  it  will  become  a snare. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ It  is  good  neither  to  eat  flesh,  nor  to  drink  wine, 
nor  anything  whereby  thy  brother  stumbleth,  or  is 
offended,  or  is  made  weak” 

30.  You  mustn’t  quarrel  with  the  Lord’s 
plans  of  work,  until  you  understand  more 
about  them.  By  the  way,  I presume  He 
has  a plan  for  you  to  work  by,  that  you  have 
never  so  much  as  looked  into.  It  is  a sub- 
ject entirely  worthy  of  your  consideration. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ But  know  that  the  Lord  hath  set  apart  him  that 
is  godly  for  himself  ” 


JULY. 


1.  Your  soul,  remember,  was  worth  the 
death  of  the  Son  of  God.  See  that  you 
make  your  life  worthy  such  a sacrifice  as 
that. 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ For  as  much  as  ye  know  that  ye  were  not  re- 
deemed with  corruptible  things , as  silver  and  gold , 
from  your  vain  conversation  received  by  tradition 
from  your  fathers ; 

But  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ , as  of  a 
lamb  without  blemish  and  without  spot .” 

2.  It  cannot  be  possible  that  you  think 
when  a waiting  soul  asks  you  to  pray,  Christ 
does  not  say  to  you,  “ Do  it  ” ? 

The  Randolphs. 

“ And  it  shall  be,  if  he  call  thee,  that  thou  shalt 
say,  Speak,  Lord;  for  thy  servant  heareth.” 

3.  “ Girls,  we  have  spent  our  strength 
vainly.  It  is  our  privilege  to  get  up  higher ; 
to  look  at  all  these  things  from  the  mount 
whereon  God  will  let  us  stand,  if  we  want 
to  climb.” 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Therefore  leaving  the  principles  of  the  doctrine 
of  Christ,  let  us  go  on  unto  perfection.” 

73 


74 


JULY. 


4.  There  is  no  trade  on  earth  so  easy  to 
learn  as  grumbling. 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ Bless  the  Lord , 0 my  soul , and  forget  not  all 
his  benefits .” 


5.  I couldn’t  doubt  my  right.  Indeed  it 
seemed  to  me  to  be  a duty,  not  only  to  pray, 
but  actually  to  supplicate,  to  coax,  you 
know,  just  as  I was  so  tempted  to  do  when 
a child. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“In  everything  by  prayer  and  supplication  with 
thanksgiving  let  your  requests  be  made  known  unto 
God .” 

6.  I pity  the  man  who  has  not  brain  power 
enough,  and  insight  into  the  future  enough, 
to  be  willing  to  be  anchored  in  God. 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“And  I will  say  unto  my  soul , Soul , thou  hast 
much  goods  laid  up  for  many  years  ; take  thine  ease , 
eat , drink , and  be  merry . 

But  God  said  unto  him,  Thou  fool,  this  night  thy 
soul  shall  be  required  of  thee : then  whose  shall 
those  things  be,  which  thou  hast  provided?" 


JULY. 


75 


7.  I shall  have  to  confess  that  Ruth’s 
old  obstinacy  came  to  her  aid  ; — or  to  her 
hinderance,  as  you  will;  concessions  which 
she  could  have  made,  she  would  not;  and 
when  she  might  have  resisted  gently,  grace- 
fully, she  often  did  it  sternly,  with  a deter- 
mination to  carry  her  point,  which  was  much 
more  evident  to  her  husband  than  was  the 
reason  for  carrying  it. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ And  the  servant  of  the  Lord  must  not  strive ; 
hut  he  gentle  unto  all  men , apt  to  teach,  patient.” 

8.  You  have  left  the  duty  of  giving 
subject  to  the  accident  of  having  something 
left  after  all  your  wants  are  supplied.  Is 
that  really  the  way  ? 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

And  of  all  that  thou  shalt  give  me  I will  surely 
give  the  tenth  unto  thee.' 

9.  Will  He  not  be  pleased  with  even 
my  little  bits  of  efforts  if  He  knows  that  my 
sincere  desire  is  to  save  souls  for  his  glory  ? 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ And  every  man  shall  receive  his  own  reward  ac- 
cording to  his  own  labor.” 


76 


JULY. 


10.  No  one  ever  was  afraid  of  becoming  a 
drunkard.  If  people  only  were  afraid,  we 
should  have  no  drunkards. 

Helen  Lester. 

“ Wherefore  let  him  that  thinlceth  he  standeth 
take  heed  lest  he  fall” 

11.  We  must  feel  some  little  measure  of 
the  same  love  for  a soul,  that  the  Lord  Jesus 
does  when  He  calls  after  it,  else  how  can 
we  hope  to  reach  it  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ And  that  He  died  for  all , that  they  ivhich  live 
should  not  henceforth  live  unto  themselves , but  unto 
Him  which  died  for  them , and  rose  again” 


12.  It  always  seemed  to  me  a bad  sign 
to  see  people  amused  with  caricatures  of 
good,  pure  old  faces. 

Profiles. 

“ And  as  he  was  going  up  by  the  way,  there  came 
forth  little  children  out  of  the  city,  and  mocked  him, 
and  said  unto  him,  Go  up,  thou  bald  head;  go  up, 
thou  bald  head. 

And  he  turned  back,  and  looked  on  them,  and 
cursed  them  in  the  name  of  the  Lord” 


JULY. 


77 


13.  It  was  such  a lovely  Sunday  morning ! 
The  world  looked  just  as  glad  and  happy  as 
a world  can  look.  The  church  bells  seemed 
like  joyful  music;  that  is,  they  sounded  so 
to  some  people.  What  a pity  that  people 
and  things  can  not  be  in  tune  in  this  world. 

Cunning  Workmen. 

11 1 teas  glad  when  they  said  unto  me,  Let  us  go 
into  the  house  of  the  Lord. 

Our  feet  shall  stand  within  thy  gates,  0 Jeru- 
salem. 

Jerusalem  is  builded  as  a city  that  is  compact 
together : 

Whither  the  tribes  go  up,  the  tribes  of  the  Lord, 
unto  the  testimony  of  Israel,  to  give  thanks  unto  the 
name  of  the  Lord.” 


14.  Alas  for  the  Christian  world  which 
believes  in  theory,  that  there  is  a direct  link 
between  the  seen  and  the  unseen,  by  which 
the  earnest  soul  can  be  told  in  what  way  to 
walk,  and,  in  practice,  thinks  it  must  search 
out  its  own  way ! 

Interrupted. 

“ 0 tliou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou 
doubt  ?” 


JULY. 


15.  “You  know,  mamma,  you  trained  us  to 
a very  careful  attention  to  fashion,  in  all  its 
details ; we  want  to  do  full  justice  to  your 
early  teachings.  As  Madame  Dupont  used 
to  say,  ‘A  young  lady  who  is  not  au  fait 
in  all  that  regards  the  demands  of  fashion, 
is  dead  already.5  55  It  was  a keen,  pointed 
arrow,  and  it  struck  home.  Ruth  sat  and 
thought  about  it  after  she  was  left  alone ; 
as  she  had  sat  and  thought  many  a day, 
since  her  work  for  these  girls  began  to 
develop  in  ways  of  which  she  had  not 
dreamed. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Ye  shall  know  them  by  their  fruits.  Do  men 
gather  grapes  of  thorns , or  figs  of  thistles  ? ” 


16.  “There  is  no  desolation  of  heart  to 
those  who  part  at  night  to  meet  again  in  the 
morning.55 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ He  will  swallow  up  death  in  victory  ; the  Lord 
God  will  wipe  away  tears  from  off  all  faces  ; and  the 
rebuke  of  his  people  shall  he  take  away  from  off  all 
the  earth  : for  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it 


JULY. 


79 


17.  When  the  church  and  the  world  start 
out  to  walk  hand  in  hand,  it  is  a curious 
thing  that  it  is  always  the  world  that  sees 
the  inconsistencies,  and  laughs,  and  always 
the  church  that  is  blind. 

Profiles. 

“ Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them , and  be 
ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord” 

“ Then  the  Church  sat  down  at  her  ease  and  said: 
* I o.m  rich  and  in  goods  increased . 

I have  need  of  nothing  and  naught  to  do , 

But  to  laugh , and  dance , and  feast.' 

But  the  sly  world  heard  her , and  laughed  in  his 
sleeve , 

And  mockingly  said , aside , 

* The  church  has  fallen,  the  beautiful  church, 

And  her  shame  is  her  boast  and  pride.'  ” 


18.  I have  known  kitchens  that  ought  to 
have  glowed  with  the  beauty  of  the  strong 
unselfish  hearts  beating  there  through  dan- 
ger, and  trial,  and  harassing  toil. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ To  them  who  by  patient  continuance  in  well 
doing  seek  for  glory  and  honor  and  immortality , 
eternal  life.” 


80 


JULY. 


19.  More  things  than  some  people  dream 
of,  are  going  on  in  this  world  of  onrs. 

Interrupted. 

“ And  Jacob  awaked  out  of  his  sleep , and  he  said , 
Surely  the  Lord  is  in  this  place  ; and  I knew  it  not.11 

20.  Sunday  is  a blessed  day  of  rest ; and 
to  think  that  the  Lord  gives  a wonderful 
promise  to  them  that  keep  it ! 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“If  thou  turn  away  thy  foot  from  the  sabbath, 
from,  doing  thy  pleasure  on  my  holy  day ; and  call 
the  sabbath  a delight,  the  holy  of  the  Lord,  honor- 
able; and  shalt  honor  him , not  doing  thine  own 
ways,  nor  finding  thine  own  pleasure,  nor  speaking 
thine  own  words : 

Then  shalt  thou  delight  thyself  in  the  Lord;  and  I 
will  cause  thee  to  ride  upon  the  high  places  of  the 
earth,  and  feed  thee  with  the  heritage  of  Jacob  thy 
father : for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.11 

21.  It  is  a fearful  thing  for  one  who 
loves  the  Lord  to  move  about  under  the 
Satan-inflicted  torture  of  the  thought : “ He 
is  cruel : He  is  cruel ! ” 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ In  all  this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  charged  God 
foolishly.11 


JULY. 


81 


22.  A boy  would  be  thought  insane  who 
would  laugh  at  another  for  trying  to  save 
his  life,  or  to  save  himself  from  being  hurt 
in  any  way ; but,  because  one  wants  to  save 
his  soul,  wants  him  to  act  like  a creature 
who  is  to  live  forever,  and  can  be  happy  or 
wretched,  just  as  he  pleases,  then  some  are 
ready  to  laugh.  Is  such  folly  worth  minding? 

Helen  Lester. 

“ Whosoever  therefore  shall  be  ashamed  of  me  and 
of  my  ivords  ; of  him  also  shall  the  Son  of  man  be 
ashamed , when  he  cometh  in  the  glory  of  his  Father 
with  the  holy  angels” 

23.  I suppose  Paul  made  failures,  but  he 
thought  that  Christ’s  blood  was  powerful 
enough  to  atone  for  even  failures,  and  His 
love  strong  enough  to  forgive  them.  I don’t 
imagine  that  Paul  kept  looking  back  and 
sighing  over  them  after  Christ  had  forgiven 
them.  Do  you? 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ Forgetting  those  things  which  are  behind , and 
reaching  forth  unto  those  things  which  are  before , 

I press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high 
calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.” 


82 


JULY. 


24.  There  is  at  least  that  amount  of  com- 
fort to  be  gotten  out  of  a disagreeable  duty 
faithfully  performed  — the  performer,  by 
the  time  the  work  is  done,  has  generally 
reached  a higher  plane  of  life,  where  he  can 
say : “ I followed  the  path  pointed  out  as 
nearly  as  I could.  The  results  are  not  for 
me  to  arrange.  The  matter  has  been  handed 
over  to  the  Master’s  hands.” 

Cunning  Workmen. 

“And  Moses  went  up  from  the  plains  of  Moah 
unto  the  mountain  of  Neho , to  the  top  of  Pisgah , 
that  is  over  against  Jericho.  And  the  Lord  shewed 

him  all  the  land  of  Gilead,  unto  Dan 

And  the  Lord  said  unto  him,  This  is  the  land  which 
I swcire  unto  Abraham,  unto  Isaac , and  unto  Jacob , 
saying,  I will  give  it  unto  thy  seed:  I have  caused 
thee  to  see  it  with  thine  eyes. 


25.  Do  you  think  we  ought  to  have  an 
“ anything  but  that,”  between  the  Lord  and 
our  prayers  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“And  he  vient  away  again  the  second  time,  and 
prayed,  saying , 0 my  Father,  if  this  cup  may  not 
pass  away  from  me,  except  I drink  it,  thy  will  be 
done.” 


JULY. 


83 


26.  To  what  use  could  those  large  silent 
rooms  be  put  which  would  reflect  honor  on 
the  One  to  whom  all  hers  was  consecrated  ? 
Ah,  therein  lay  the  secret  of  the  difficulty  ! 
She  must  say  “our  rooms/7  if  only  she 
could  say,  “all  ours  is  consecrated/7  how 
plainly  would  the  answer  to  this  painful 
riddle  glow  before  her  ! She  knew  a dozen 
beautiful  things  that  might  be  done  with 
cultured  consecrated  homes.77 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Can  two  walk  together,  except  they  be  agreed  ?” 

27.  One  reason  why  our  friends  are  not 
converted  is  because  we,  their  leaders,  walk 
so  crookedly  that  we  keep  them  all  the  time 
stumbling  over  us. 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ Can  the  blind  lead  the  blind?  shall  they  not 
both  fall  into  the  ditch?” 

28.  Where  would  be  the  church  of  Christ 
without  its  living,  working  members  ? 

Interrupted. 

“ Thou  hast  a few  names  even  in  Sardis  which 
have  not  defiled  their  garments  ; and  they  shall  walk 
with  me  in  white : for  they  are  worthy  ” 


84 


JULY. 


29.  Don’t  allow  yourself  for  one  moment 
to  limit  the  power  and  the  grace  of  a Saviour. 
Remember  he  is  “ mighty  to  save.” 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ Now  unto  hun  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abun- 
dantly above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  according  to 
the  povier  that  worketh  in  us, 

Unto  him  be  glory  in  the  Church  by  Jesus  Christ 
throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end .” 

30.  I wonder  how  I should  feel  if  I 
should  go  to  heaven  and  meet  one  of  those 
whom  I ought  to  have  known  in  the  church 
on  ear  tip  and  the  Lord  should  see  that  we 
were  strangers ! 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Now  therefore  ye  are  no  more  strangers  and  for- 
eigners, but  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of 
the  household  of  God .” 

31.  The  fact  is,  we  must  learn  to  work 
for  Christ,  and  not  set  up  business  for  our- 
selves, and  still  expect  Him  to  give  the 
wages. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me;  and  he 
that  gather eth  not  with  me  scatter eth  abroad .” 


AUGUST. 


1.  So  many  things  in  this  world  squeak 
for  the  want  of  a thoughtful  hand  to  ad- 
minister a drop  of  oil. 

Interrupted. 

“ To  appoint  unto  them  that  mourn  in  Zion,  to 
give  unto  them  beauty  for  ashes,  the  oil  of  joy  for 
mourning , the  garment  of  praise  for  the  spirit  of 
heaviness;  that  they  might  be  called  trees  of  right- 
eousness, the  planting  of  the  Lord , that  he  might  be 
glorified .” 


2.  If  it  were  wise  or  kind  to  make 
such  distinctions  I could  wish  that  those 
whose  friends  have  gone,  without  a gleam 
of  light,  into  an  unknown  future,  should 
wear  the  crepe  and  bombazine  ; and  let  us, 
who  have  seen  the  reflection  of  the  glory 
signalize  it  by  wearing  only  dazzling  white. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ And  to  her  was  granted  that  she  should  be 
arrayed  in  fine  linen,  clean  and  white:  for  the  fine 
linen  is  the  nghteousness  of  saints .” 

85 


86 


AUGUST. 


3.  “I  ain’t  one  that  expects  folks  six- 
teen years  old  to  act  as  though  they  was 
sixty/’  said  Mrs.  Smith. 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ When  I was  a child , I spake  as  a child , Inn - 
derstood  as  a child , I thought  as  a child : but  when 
I became  a man  I put  away  childish  things .” 

4.  We  are  almost  tired  of  all  sorts  of 
books,  but  there  is  one  Book  which  never 
wears  out.  What  if  you  and  I should  be- 
gin to  study  the  Bible  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ How  sweet  are  thy  words  unto  my  taste!  yea , 
sweeter  than  honey  to  my  mouth  ! ” 

5.  When  I remember  the  infinite  height 
above  ns  all  that  the  Lord  occupies,  and 
how  He  stoojos , to  have  anything  to  do  with 
one  of  us,  I am  humiliated  at  the  idea  of 
calling  any  work  of  mine  lowly.  There  are 
times  when  there  seems  to  me  no  very  great 
heights  or  depths  of  humanity. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ Hearken , my  beloved  brethren , Hath  not  God 
chosen  the  poor  of  this  world  rich  in  faith,  and 
heirs  of  the  kingdom  which  he  hath  promised  to 
them  that  love  him 


AUGUST. 


87 


6.  I can’t  help  feeling  that  you  are  plan- 
ning in  your  own  heart  just  what  ought  to 
be  done,  and  then  allowing  yourself  to  feel 
almost  indignant  and  ill-used  because  the 
work  is  not  accomplished. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ For  as  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth , 
so  are  my  luays  higher  than  your  ways , and  my 
thoughts  than  your  thoughts.” 


7.  Oh ! there  were  constant  blunders 
which  this  poor  blundering  Christian  made. 
She  needed  helping  from  the  human  side ; 
and  she  had  chosen  a broken  reed  to  lean 
upon.  Is  it  any  wonder  that  she  made  mis- 
takes ? I am  not  excusing  her.  She  might, 
even  under  these  circumstances,  have  gone 
to  the  Stronghold,  and  received  grace  suffi- 
cient. What  I am  saying,  is,  that  she 
made  life  harder  for  herself  than  it  need 
have  been. 

Judge  Burnliam’s  Daughters. 

“ Be  ye  not  unequally  yoked  together  with  unbe- 
lievers : for  what  fellowship  hath  righteousness  with 
unrighteousness  ? and  what  communion  hath  light 
with  darkness  ? 


88 


AUGUST. 


8.  There  is  a way  of  praying  about  a 
soul  with  whom  we  are  offended  — or,  at 
least,  we  call  it  praying  — which  is  simply 
pouring  out  one’s  knowledge  of  that  pep 
son’s  shortcomings  in  a most  vindictive 
way  before  the  One  whom  we  almost  un- 
consciously feel  ought  to  come  to  our  help 
and  administer  rebuke. 

Interrupted. 

“ And  when  ye  stand  praying , forgive , if  ye  have 
ought  against  any : that  your  Father  also  which  is 
in  heaven  may  forgive  you  your  trespasses.” 

9.  I wonder  when  the  Lord’s  own  peo- 
ple will  awaken  to  the  fact  that  there  are 
no  trivial  things  in  life  ? that  there  are 
no  passing  moments  but  what  decide  the 
eternal  destinies  of  souls  ? 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ Thou  tellest  my  wanderings : put  thou  my  tears 
into  thy  bottle : are  they  not  in  thy  book  ? ” 

10.  God  is  on  your  side,  He  will  surely 
deliver  you  if  you  trust  in  Him ; if  you 
turn  from  Him  how  can  He  help  you  ? 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ Except  these  abide  in  the  ship , ye  cannot  be 
saved” 


AUGUST. 


89 


11.  You  will  find  that  if  this  life  is  a 
warfare  we  have  more  than  a Captain  — 
we’ve  a Commander-in-chief,  and  we  have 
nothing  to  do  with  the  fight,  other  than  to 
obey  orders  and  keep  behind  the  shield. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Looking  unto  Jesus  the  author  and  finisher  of 
our  faith.” 

12.  Meantime  where  was  Satan  ? Con- 
tent to  let  this  reaping  time  alone  ? Oh  ! 
bless  you,  no.  Never  busier,  never  more 
alert,  and  watchful,  and  cautious,  and  skill- 
ful than  now.  It  wTas  wonderful,  too,  how 
many  helpers  he  found  whose  names  were 
actually  on  the  roll  of  the  Church  ! 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Satan  hath  desired  to  have  you” 

13.  Those  girls  had  climbed  ; they  were 
standing  — at  least  so  far  as  these  trying 
little  beginnings  of  religious  experience 
were  concerned,  away  above  them  — trou- 
bled by  them  no  more. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ For  which  cause  we  faint  not;  but  though  our 
outward  man  perish,  yet  the  inward  man  is  renewed 
day  by  day.” 


90 


AUGUST. 


14.  When  you  accepted  Christ  as  your 
Friend,  did  you  not  engage  to  take  some 
things  on  trust  — to  believe  that  what  you 
could  not  see,  was  yet  clear  to  the  eye  and 
the  heart  of  your  Saviour,  and  that  He 
ruled  ? 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ Jesus  saith  unto  him , Thomas , because  thou 
ha, st  seen  me,  thou  hast  believed:  blessed  are  they 
that  have  not  seen,  and  yet  have  believed” 

15.  There  is  just  One  who  fought  a baftle 
with  Satan  and  came  off  victor,  and  there 
never  will  be  another.  The  victory  must 
come  through  Him,  or  it  is  at  best  a very 
partial,  and  at  all  times  a doubtful  one.  In 
Him  are  safety  and  everlasting  strength, 
and  outside  of  Him  is  danger. 

Interrupted. 

“ Then  the  devil  leavetli  him,  and,  behold,  any  els 
came  and  ministered  unto  him.” 

16.  How  wonderful  that  any  of  us  are 
careless  or  thoughtless  for  a moment,  so  long 
as  we  have  a child  or  a friend  unsafe. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Brethren , my  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God 
for  Israel  is,  that  they  might  be  saved” 


AUGUST. 


91 


17.  She  had  prayed  for  it,  but  she  was 
like  many  another  Christian  worker  in  that 
she  had  not  seemed  to  expect  the  answer  to 
her  prayer.  Verily,  He  has  to  be  content 
with  exceeding  little  faith. 

Interrupted. 

“ But  let  him  ask  in  faith,  nothing  wavering. 
For  he  that  waver eth  is  like  a leave  of  the  sea  driven 
with  the  wind  and  tossed .” 

18.  “ If  I prefer  not  Jerusalem  above  my 
chief  joy,”  what  then  ? Why,  then  I am 
false  to  my  covenant  vows,  and  the  possi- 
bilities are  that  I am  none  of  His. 

Interrupted. 

“ Beyond  my  highest  joy 
I prize  her  heavenly  ways  ; 

Her  sweet  communion,  solemn  vows, 

Her  hymns  of  love  and  praise .” 

19.  A religious  uplifting  which  does  not 
bubble  over  into  whatever  practical  work 
the  heart  or  the  hands  find  to  do,  is  not 
apt  to  continue. 

Interrupted. 

“ Therefore  they  that  were  scattered  abroad  went 
everywhere  preaching  the  word .” 


92 


AUGUST. 


20.  “Here  was  she,  after  the  lapse  of 
years,  sitting  beside  the  one  with  whom  she 
had  spent  the  most  of  them,  and  he  had 
gotten  no  farther  than  the  old,  worn-out 
query  : “ Wherein  lies  the  harm  ? ” The 
solemn  question  was,  Did  this  tell  some- 
thing of  her  own  spiritual  state  ? 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ For  vjhen  for  the  time  ye  ought  to  he  teachers , 
ye  have  need  that  one  teach  you  again  which  he  the 
first  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God;  and  are  he - 
come  such  as  have  need  of  milk , and  not  of  strong 
meat .” 

21.  God  bless  the  souls  who,  capable  of 
rising  to  the  heights  which  belong  to  im- 
mortality, yet  think  of  kitchen  fires  and 
breakfasts. 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ Wherefore  I pray  you  to  take  some  meat:  for 
this  is  for  your  health : for  there  shall  not  an  hair 
fall  from  the  head  of  any  of  you .” 

“ Andichen  Paul  had  gathered  a bundle  of  sticks , 
and  laid  them  on  the  fire , their  came  a viper  out  of 
the  \ heat , and  fastened  on  his  hand.  , . . And 

he  shook  off  the  beast  into  the  fire , and  felt  no 
harm.” 


AUGUST. 


93 


22.  Dear,  half-asleep  Christian,  wonders 
are  taking  place  all  about  you,  and  is  it  pos- 
sible that  you  are  merely  engaged  in  try- 
ing to  prove  to  yourself  and  others  that 
“ the  age  of  miracles  is  past  ” ? though  why 
you*  should  be  very  anxious  to  prove  it, 
does  not  clearly  appear  even  to  yourself. 

Interrupted. 

“ What  meanest  thou , 0 sleeper  ? arise , call 
upon  thy  God .” 


23.  So  long  as  the  Lord  said  there  was 
a place  by  Him,  and  promised  to  hide  us, 
and  promised  to  shield  us,  and  promised  to 
cover  us  with  His  hands,  and  promised  to 
gather  us  under  His  wings,  why  should  we 
be  forever  starting  off  alone,  or  at  best  only 
allowing  Him  to  push  a little,  while  we  go 
ahead  and  climb  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ He  that%dwelleth  in  the  secret  place  of  the  most 
High  shall  abide  under  the  shadow  of  the  Almighty .” 


94 


AUGUST. 


24.  A band  of  young  people  plunged 
heart  and  soul  into  anything,  are  almost 
certain  to  succeed.  The  everlasting  pity  is 
that  so  often  success  is  not  worth  the  price 
paid. 

Profiles. 

“ Then  Hooked  on  all  the  works  that  my  hands 
had  wrought , and  on  the  labour  that  I had  laboured 
to  do : and , behold , all  was  vanity  and  vexation  of 
spirit , and  there  was  no  profit  under  the  sun.” 


25.  There  is  many  a boy  who  coaxes  a 
girl  to  go  where  he  wishes  in  his  soul  she 
may  have  Christian  firmness  to  refuse. 

Profiles. 

11  If  sinners  entice  thee , consent  thou  not.” 

26.  We  shall  probably  never  know,  on 
this  side,  how  far  the  prayers  of  the  mothers 
at  home  reach. 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

11  And  it  came  to  pass , as  she  continued  praying 
before  the  Lord , that  Eli  marked  her  mouth. 

Now  Hannah,  she  spake  in  her  heart;  only  her 
lips  moved,  but  her  voice  was  not  heard.” 


AUGUST. 


95 


27.  I think  sometimes  our  Heavenly 
Father  does  just  as  we  do  with  the  children. 
He  lets  us  stumble  in  a place  where  it  is 
not  too  hard,  so  that  we  will  learn  what  it 
is  to  obey. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Except  ye  be  converted , and  become  as  little 
children , ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven.” 

28.  The  Lord  knows  you ; knows  just 
what  place  He  has  set  you  in;  just  how 
many  people  you  can  touch  with  your  in- 
fluence, and  just  what  He  is  going  to  do 
with  them  all. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ The  Lord  thy  God  hath  chosen  thee.” 

29*  u Get  thee  behind  me,  Satan.”  The 
only  perfect  Life  gave  that  sentence  once, 
not  alone  for  Himself ; thank  God,  He  has 
many  a time  since  enabled  His  weak  chil- 
dren of  the  flesh  to  repeat  it  in  triumph. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Resist  the  devil,  and  he  will  flee  from  you.” 


96 


AUGUST. 


30.  How  wonderful  will  the  revelations 
of  Heaven  be,  when  certain,  whose  lives  have 
touched  for  a few  days  and  then  separated, 
shall  meet,  in  some  of  the  cycles  of  eter- 
nity, and  talk  things  over  ! 

Interrupted. 

“ And  it  came  to  pass , that  the  beggar  died , and 
was  carried  by  the  angels  into  Abraham's  bosom." 

31.  Poor  Euth  was  destined  to  realize 
fully  that  one  may  shut  the  doors  with 
emphasis  against  tangible  guests,  and  yet 
receive  a whole  troop  of  miscreants  into 
one’s  heart,  who  made  havoc  with  holy  time. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence  ; for  out  of  it 
are  the  issues  of  life." 


SEPTEMBER. 


1.  In  that  glorious  old  prophet’s  book  is 
my  jubilant  verse  : — 

“ And  the  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  re- 
turn, and  come  to  Zion  with  songs  and  ever- 
lasting joy  upon  their  heads  : they  shall 
obtain  joy  and  gladness,  and  sorrow  and 
sighing  shall  flee  away.” 

Ester  Hied. 

“ Oh!  sweet  and  blessed  Country , 

The  home  of  God's  elect ; 

Oh  ! sweet  and  blessed  Country , 

That  eager  hearts  expect ; 

Jesus , in  mercy  bring  us 
To  that  dear  land  of  rest; 

Who  art , with  God  the  Father , 

And  Spirit,  ever  blest." 


2.  When  one  attempts  not  only  to  drop 
the  seed,  but  to  make  the  fruit  that  shall 
spring  up,  no  wonder  one  stands  back 
appalled  ! 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ I have  planted,  Apollos  watered;  but  God  gave 
the  increase 


97 


98 


SEPTEMBER. 


3.  There  is  a sense  in  which  we  are  all 
of  us  unworthy  of  Christ’s  love  or  care,  but 
we  are  always  to  remember  this : that  He 
has  chosen  us  for  His  own,  that  we  have 
been  bought,  with  a price,  that  we  are  held 
as  infinitely  precious  in  His  sight,  and  that, 
therefore,  we  must  set  a high  estimate  on 
our  own  importance,  and  live  accordingly. 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ Since  thou  wast  precious  in  my  sight , thou  hast 
been  honorable ; and  I have  loved  thee : therefore 
will  I give  men  for  thee , and  people  for  thy  life .” 


4.  Reason,  being  allowed  once  more  to 
take  her  seat,  accused  this  Christian  woman 
of  having  yielded,  not  to  conscience,  but  to 
rage.  Herein  lay  the  real  point  of  the 
sting : she  knew  her  action  would  be  at- 
tributed to  her  religion,  when  she  her- 
self realized  only  too  well,  that  it  was  the 
outburst  of  a moment’s  ungovernable  in- 
dignation. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and 
desperately  wicked:  who  can  know  it?” 


SEPTEMBER. 


99 


5.  I can’t  help  thinking  that  there  are 
some  people  who  have  not  received  the 
Holy  Ghost,  even  though  they  do  believe  ; 
not  that  He  hasn’t  come  to  them,  you  know, 
but  that  they  won’t  receive  Him. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ But  the  Comforter , which  is  the  Holy  Ghost , 
whom  the  Father  will  send  in  my  name , he  shall 
teach  you  all  things , and  bring  all  things  to  your 
remembrance , whatsoever  I have  said  unto  you” 

6.  “ I have  made  up  my  mind  that  living 
a Christian  life,  isn’t  walking  on  a feather 
bed,  whether  you  live  in  a palace,  or  a 
fourth-rate  boarding-house,  and  teach  school. 
I shouldn’t  'wonder  if  there  were  such  things 
as  vexations  everywhere.” 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

<c  For  our  light  affliction , which  is  but  for  a 
moment , worketh  for  us  afar  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory.” 

7.  Utter  shipwreck  of  human  happiness 
is  rarely,  thank  God,  a necessity ; even 
though  grievous  blunders  have  been  made. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Bet  urn  unto  me,  and  I will  return  unto  you , 
saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts.” 


100 


SEPTEMBER. 


8.  “ That’s  for  all  the  world  like  some 
folks ! ” Mrs.  Solomon  Smith  remarked 
meditatively,  resting  her  knitting-needle  on 
her  lip  and  staring  into  the  glow  on  the 
hearth.  “ You  have  to  give  them  an  awful 
poke,  every  now  and  then,  before  they  set 
themselves  to  amounting  to  anything.” 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ This  second  epistle , beloved,  I now  write  unto 
you ; in  both  which  I stir  up  your  pure  minds  by 
way  of  remembrance.” 

9.  Life  is  full  of  victories,  and  so  long 
as  we  have  a sure  Captain  to  carry  on  the 
warfare,  and  know  there  will  be  victories, 
why  should  we  be  so  disturbed  about  it  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  vic- 
tory through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.” 

10.  If  you  belong  to  the  Lord  Jesus, 
surely  He  has  work  for  you,  and  is  able  to 
point  it  out,  and  to  fill  your  heart  with 
satisfaction  while  you  do  His  bidding. 

Interrupted. 

“ Having  then  gifts  differing  according  to  the 
grace  that  is  given  to  us,  whether  prophecy,  let  us 
prophesy  according  to  the  proportion  of  faith.” 


SEPTEMBER. 


101 


11.  Meantime,  she  slowly  made  the 
changes  in  her  dress  that  had  been  called 
for;  this  much  she  could  do.  She  smiled 
somewhat  curiously  over  the  discovery  that 
her  recent  experience  had  made  her  look  at 
even  so  trivial  a thing  as  this,  in  a new 
light.  Yesterday  she  would  have  said  that 
she  was  sorry  her  dress  did  not  suit,  but  as 
it  was  the  most  appropriate  garment  she 
had  for  the  occasion,  she  must  ask  him  to 
be  content  with  it.  To-day,  such  a response 
looked  humiliatingly  hateful.  Had  she 
really  been  a disagreeable  Christian  through 
all  these  years  ? 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Let  this  mind  he  in  you , which  was  also  in 
Christ  Jesus 

12.  It  is  a truth  that  a certain  class  of 
Christian  workers  need  to  ponder  deeply, 
that  when  we  have  done  our  best,  accord- 
ing to  the  measure  of  our  opportunities,  we 
may  safely  leave  the  Holy  Spirit  to  supple- 
ment our  work. 

Interrupted. 

“ Not  by  might , nor  by  power , but  by  my  spirit , 
saith  the  Lord  of  Hosts.” 


102 


SEPTEMBER. 


13.  There  are  two  ways  of  keeping  a 
promise ; one  is  to  make  an  attempt  and 
fail,  saying  to  our  contented  consciences, 
“There!  I’ve  done  my  duty,  and  it  is  no 
use,  you  see  ” ; and  the  other  is  to  persist  in 
attempt  after  attempt,  until  the  very  per- 
tinacity of  our  faith  accomplishes  the  work 
for  us. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Moreover  it  is  required  in  stewards , that  a man 
he  found  faithful .” 

14.  We  care  for  anything  for  which  we 
work,  and  especially  for  which  we  sacrifice 
a little,  you  know. 

Interrupted. 

Who  for  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him  endured 
the  cross , despising  the  shame , and  is  set  down  at 
the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God ” 

15.  I tremble  for  any  man  whose  will  is 
not  anchored  on  the  rock  Christ  Jesus. 

One  Commonplace  Da3r. 

“ Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul , 
both  sure  and  steadfast , and  which  enteretli  into 
that  within  the  veil” 


SEPTEMBER. 


103 


16.  Shall  we  who  belong  to  Christ’s  body 
have  aught  to  say  against  the  different 
members  of  that  body  ? Don’t  you  think  it 
is  a subject  that  we,  as  Christians,  need  to 
think  much  of  ? Do  we  not  constantly  for- 
get that  we  are  “ members  one  of  another  ” ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Now  ye  are  the  body  of  Christ , and  members  in 
particular.” 

17.  “I  am  not  a prisoner,”  she  told  her- 
self firmly,  “ nor  a slave.  I am  the  Lord’s 
free  woman.  I am  responsible  to  Him ; and 
I will  not  bow  my  neck  to  the  yoke  of 
fashionable  life.  I will  not  appear  to  coun- 
tenance what  I do  not  approve.” 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Stand  fast , therefore , in  the  liberty  wherewith 
Christ  hath  made  us  free , and  be  not  entangled  icith 
the  yoke  of  bondage .” 

18.  Suppose  we  actually  bore  on  our 
hearts  the  individual  griefs  of  the  world  ? 
How  long  would  our  poor  bodies  be  in 
breaking  under  the  strain  ? 

Interrupted. 

“ Surely  he  hath  borne  our  griefs , and  carried 
our  sorrows .” 


104 


SEPTEMBER. 


19.  Poor,  tired  heart.  Don’t  you  think 
that  the  Lord  Jesus  can  rest  you  anywhere 
except  by  the  way  of  the  grave  ? Don’t 
you  hear  His  voice  calling  to  you  to  come 
and  rest  in  Him  this  minute  ? 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 

“ Come  unto  me , all  ye  that  labor  and  are  heavy 
laden , and  I will  give  you  rest” 

20.  It  was  the  humiliation  of  this  Chris- 
tian woman  that  there  were  times  when 
silence  would  have  been  golden,  in  which 
she  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  sar- 
casm. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ To  everything  there  is  a season , and  a time  to 
every  purpose  under  the  heaven . , . . 

A time  to  keep  silence , and  a time  to  speak” 

21.  There  is  so  mucn  religion  in  these 
days  that  wants  to  be  done  up  in  pink  cotton 
and  laid  safely  away  from  human  sight  and 
sound. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ I pray  not  that  thou  sliouldst  take  them  out  of 
the  world , but  that  thou  shouldst  keep  them  from 
the  evil” 


SEPTEMBER. 


105 


22.  Slie  had  been  so  long  among  peo- 
ple who  did  not  know  how  to  pray,  as  to 
have  almost  forgotten  how  busy  some 
women  were  in  their  Lord’s  vineyard. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Even  so,  then , at  this  present  time  also,  there  is 
a remnant  according  to  the  election  of  grace” 


23.  He  considered  himself  posted  on  all 
subjects,  whether  in  art,  literature,  or  music ; 
and  unhesitatingly  expressed  his  opinion 
with  an  air  that  was  intended  to  quench 
any  opposing  views  from  any  source  what- 
ever. I do  not  think  he  would  have  hesi- 
tated to  dispute  the  most  eminent  scientist 
which  the  world  has  produced,  if  he  hap- 
pened to  venture  a statement  not  in  accord- 
ance with  his  own  preconceived  opinion, 
though  that  opinion  might  have  been 
adopted  because  of  a chance  remark  which 
he  heard  some  one  make  at  the  breakfast 
table.” 

J udge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Seest  thou  a man  wise  in  his  own  conceit? 
there  is  more  hope  of  a fool  than  of  him  .” 


106 


SEPTEMBER. 


24.  It  is  easier  to  be  good  for  others 
than  it  is  for  one’s  self. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Therefore  thou  art  inexcusable,  O,  man,  who- 
soever thou  art  that  judgest : for  wherein  thou 
judgest  another,  thou  condemnest  thyself;  for  thou 
that  judgest  doest  the  same  things .” 


25.  She  had  not  wanted  to  wrap  her- 
self in  black  for  her  father.  It  was  true 
that  she  felt  desolate  enough  to  describe  it 
to  the  world  by  the  heaviest  crepe  it  could 
furnish  her  ; but,  remembering  her  father’s 
face,  as  earth  receded  from  him,  and  Heaven 
appeared,  remembering  the  smile  of  un- 
earthly radiance  with  which  he  finally 
“ entered  in,”  it  had  not  seemed  fitting  that 
she,  a Christian,  looking  forward  to  the 
same  entrance  one  day,  should  array  herself 
in  gloom,  and  mourn  as  those  who  had  no 
bright  side  to  their  sorrow. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ I will  turn  their  mourning  into  joy,  and  will 
comfort  them,  and  make  them  rejoice  from  their 
sorrow.  ” 


SEPTEMBER. 


107 


26.  We  love  to  be  governed  by  reason, 
and  bate  to  walk  in  the  dark.  I have 
always  wondered  what  Philip  said  when 
called  to  leave  his  great  meeting,  where  it 
seemed  hardly  possible  to  do  without  him, 
and  go  toward  the  south  on  a desert  road. 
That  he  went,  and  promptly,  is,  I think,  a 
wonderful  thing  for  Philip. 

Interrupted. 

“ For  now  we  see  through  a glass , darkly ; but 
then  face  to  face : now  I know  in  part ; but  then 
shall  I know  even  as  also  lam  known.” 

27.  u Whosoever  shall  do  the  will  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  Heaven,  the  same  is  my 
brother  and  sister.”  If  they  are  His 
brothers  and  sisters  then  are  they  not  ours, 
if  we  belong  to  His  family?  and  you  know 
we  do  not  like  to  see  our  kindred  subjects 
of  ridicule,  even  though  they  may  some- 
times be  guilty  of  bad  taste  in  dress,  and 
have  among  them  those  who  have  physical 
infirmities. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ For  he  that  touclieth  you  toucheth  the  apple  of 
liis  eye.” 


108 


SEPTEMBER. 


28.  Union  with  Christ ; such  a union  as 
carries  you  captive  — making  your  time,  and 
your  money,  and  your  talents,  not  your  own, 
but  His.  There  is  nothing  dissatisfying 
about  such  a life,  my  friend.  It  almost 
lifts  one  above  the  accident  of  outward 
surroundings. 

Interrupted. 

“ But  none  of  these  things  move  me,  neither  count 
I my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I might  finish 
my  course  with  joy." 


29.  It  seemed  to  Ruth,  afterwards,  that 
during  that  half-hour  after  the  doctor  left 
her  alone,  she  came  face  to  face  with  a realiz- 
ing sense  of  death  and  the  judgment,  for  the 
first  time  in  her  life  ! And  the  thought  that 
a soul  with  which  she  had  had  to  do,  for 
years,  was  going  swiftly  forward  into  those 
scenes,  all  unprepared,  seemed  almost  to 
paralyze  her  with  terror. 

J udge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ They  watch  for  your  soids,  as  they  that  must 
give  account , that  they  may  do  it  with  joy,  and  not 
with  grief." 


SEPTEMBER. 


109 


30.  It  is  a blessed  thing  that  the  just 
God  is  more  tender  and  pitiful  than  men 
and  women. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ I will  heal  their  backsliding,  I will  love  them 
freely : for  mine  anger  is  turned  away  from  him” 


OCTOBEE. 


1.  “ Go  tell  my  disciples  — and  Peter.” 

Jnst  think  of  that ! A special  message  to 
Peter,  the  one  who  had  treated  him  the 
worst. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ Oh!  see  hoiv  Jesus  trusts  himself 
Unto  our  childish  love , 

As  though  by  his  free  ways  with  us, 

Our  earnestness  to  prove.” 


2.  “Times  are  changed,  and  I like  the 
Lord’s  house  to  keep  pace  with  our  own,  at 
least.  Look  how  they  did  with  the  Temple. 
The  Lord  had  the  best  used  for  that.  It 
came  first,  and  I suppose  if  the  people  had 
anything  left,  they  could  put  some  of  the 
pretty  into  their  own  homes,  but  not  before 
the  Temple  had  all  it  needed.  That  ought 
to  be  the  rule  now,”  said  Mrs.  Smith. 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ And  they  spake  unto  Moses,  saying,  The  peo- 
ple bring  much  more  than  enough  for  the  service  of 
the  work.” 


110 


OCTOBER. 


Ill 


3.  Two  souls  ought  to  be  able  to  come 
together  in  communion  with  the  Master 
every  evening.  There  is  a good  deal  of 
wasted  happiness  in  this  world. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 

“ Again  I say  unto  you , That  if  two  of  you  shall 
agree  on  earth  as  touching  anything  that  they  shall 
ask , it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven .” 

4.  “If  I have  resolved  to  strive  to  do 
whatever  He  would  like  to  have  me,  there 
can  be  no  objection  to  my  writing  that  res- 
olution on  paper  for  the  purpose  of  letting 
others  know  where  I stand,  and  of  winning 
them  to  my  way.  Of  course  the  signing  a 
covenant  is  merely  the  expression  for  the 
convenience  of  others,  of  a deliberate  con- 
viction and  line  of  action.  Whether  I set 
down  my  name,  or  not,  does  not  alter  the 
facts  as  they  stand  revealed  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.” 

Chris sy^s  Endeavor. 

“ I believed , therefore  have  I spoken ; T will  walk 
before  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the  living.  I will 
pay  my  vows  unto  the  Lord .” 


112 


OCTOBER. 


5.  It  is  a strange  thing,  and  a solemn 
thing  to  realize  how  unwittingly  the  seed 
of  unbelief  may  be  sown  in  a young  heart. 

Spun  from  Fact. 

“ Take  heed  what  ye  do” 

6.  Alas ! for  the  doctors  who  shrink 
away  from  death  as  a grim  monster,  and 
know  nothing  about  the  Hand  of  Power 
that  has  taken  away  the  sting.  No  wonder 
that  the  temptation  to  shirk  or  to  deliber- 
ately deny  the  truth  is  too  great  for  them. 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ 0,  death!  where  is  thy  sting?  0,  grave!  where 
is  thy  victory?  ” 

7.  Human  patience  is  a very  weak  and 
contemptible  thing,  but  if  you  belong  to 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  you  have  found  in 
Him  infinite  patience,  and  it  is  His  com- 
mand that  you  struggle  to  make  this  pa- 
tience yours  ; to  watch  over,  and  weep  for, 
and  pray  for  the  fallen  with  Christ-like 
patience  and  Christ-like  tenacity. 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ But  let  patience  have  her  perfect  work , that  ye 
may  be  perfect  and  entire,  wanting  nothing .” 


OCTOBER. 


113 


8.  When  we  stop  and  consider  it,  life, 
for  the  most  part,  is  made  up  of  little 
things.  It  is  only  the  occasional  which  is 
startling  in  its  magnitude. 

Eighty-Seven. 

“ Who  Tcnoweth  not  in  all  these  that  the  hand  oj 
the  Lord  hath  wrought  this ? 

In  whose  hand  is  the  soul  of  every  living  thing.” 

9.  It  is  not  every  one  who,  having  made 
arrangements  to  give  a party,  goes  to  his 
Father  in  Heaven  for  help  and  encourage- 
ment. 

Cunning  Workmen. 

“ And  the  third  day  there  was  a marriage  in  Cana 
of  Galilee;  and  the  mother  of  Jesus  was  there : 

And  both  Jesus  was  called , and  his  disciples , to 
the  marriage.” 

10.  He  discoursed  learnedly  on  religious 
topics,  making  the  wildest  statements,  which 
were  without  even  the  shadow  of  a solid 
foundation,  and  proceeding  gravely  to  argue 
about  them  as  the  accepted  standards  of  the 
Church. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Who  is  this  that  darkeneth  counsel  by  words 
without  knovjledge?  ” 


114 


OCTOBER. 


11.  Do  you  suppose  St.  Paul  had  to  pat- 
ronize fairs,  and  buy  slippers  and  things, 
for  the  benefit  of  churches  in  Ephesus  or 
Corinth  ? 

Interrupted. 

“ And  all  that  believed  were  together , and  had  all 
things  common  ; 

And  sold  their  possessions  and  goods , and  parted 
them  to  all  men , as  every  man  had  need.” 

12.  No  heavy  burdens,  so-called,  but  ten 
thousand  little  things,  or  what  in  our  par- 
lance are  called  little  things,  weighed  down 
her  heart,  fettered  her  lips,  and  filled  her 
with  a steadily  increasing  unrest. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ And  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her , Martha, 
Martha,  thou  art  careful  and  troubled  about  many 
things.” 

13.  What  are  homes  for  ? Why  did  He 
give  you  one  ? May  it  not  possibly  be  that 
He  wants  you  to  show  its  photograph  to 
others  for  a purpose  ? 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ My  lord,  0 king,  according  to  thy  saying,  I 
am  thine , and  all  that  I have.” 


OCTOBER. 


115 


14.  I think  if  I could  help  to  lead  one 
person  to  understand  and  love  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  as  much  even  as  I understand 
Him  now,  so  that  He  would  be  that  soul’s 
eternal  salvation,  it  would  be  ambition 
enough  to  fill  a lifetime. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ 0,  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem , thou  that  killest  the 
prophets,  and  stonest  them  which  are  sent  unto  thee , 
how  often  would  I have  gathered  thy  children  to- 
gether, even  as  a hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under 
her  wings,  and  ye  would  not  ! ” 

15.  Perhaps  it  is  just  as  well  for  young 
people  to  look  squarely  in  the  face  the  fact 
that  there  will  be  discouragements  to  meet 
their  hopes,  and  apathetic  croakers  to  meet 
their  enthusiasms,  to  the  end  of  time. 

The  main  thing,  and  the  central  pivot  on 
which  the  main  thing  will  turn,  is  to  make 
sure  of  being  able  to  say  bravely  to  your 
inmost  soul : “ The  Lord  is  with  us,  fear 
them  not.” 

Chrissy’s  Endeavor. 

“ The  slothful  man  saith,  1 there  is  a lion  in  the 
way ” 

‘ ‘ And  there  we  saw  the  giants  ! And  we  were  in 
our  own  sight  as  grasshoppers ! ” 


116 


OCTOBER. 


16.  She  felt  that  the  time  had  certainly 
come  when  she  could  no  longer  fold  her 
hands  in  graceful  idleness  ; she  must  find 
her  appointed  niche  in  the  Lord’s  great  work- 
shop, and  do  her  part. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ And  straightway  he  {Paul)  preached  Christ  in 
the  synagogues .” 


17.  Jeanie  Barret,  when  she  knelt  in 
that  tented  space,  felt  only  a blind,  home- 
sick longing  for  an  experience  such  as  she 
believed  some  had,  but  which  she  was  more 
than  doubtful  could  be  for  her.  When  she 
arose,  not  ten  minutes  afterward,  she  knew, 
as  well  as  that  she  stood  there,  with  the  old 
minister  touching  her  arm  and  speaking  to 
her  in  low  tones,  that  she  had  passed  from 
the  position  which  she  had  all  her  life  occu- 
pied over  to  the  other  side,  with  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  for  her  advocate. 

Spun  from  Fact. 

“ One  thing  I know , that , whereas  I was  blind . 
now  I see.” 


OCTOBER. 


m 


18.  There  are  mornings  trying  to  the 
souls  of  cooks,  when  it  is  well  known  that 
the  kettle  will  not  boil  until  it  is  waited  for, 
and  coaxed  with  special  chips,  and  then  it 
chooses  an  unexpected  moment  and  boils 
over  into  the  potatoes,  and  steak  smokes 
instead  of  broils,  and  everything  everywhere 
is  totally  depraved. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“And  lest  I should  he  exalted  above  measure 
through  the  abundance  of  the  revelations , there  was 
given  to  me  a thorn  in  the  flesh , the  messenger  of 
Satan  to  buffet  me , lest  I should  be  exalted  above 
measure” 

19.  As  for  herself,  she  had  full  and 
abiding  faith  in  the  fact  that  the  Christ  of 
Galilee  had  lavished  miracles,  many  and 
wonderful,  upon  that  favored  people  eigh- 
teen hundred  years  ago ; what  she  wanted 
was  a miracle  for  her,  to-day. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ But  Naaman  was  wroth , and  went  away , and 
said , Behold , I thought , he  will  surely  come  out  to 
me , and  stand , and  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  his 
God , and  strike  his  hand  over  the  place,  and  recover 
the  leper” 


118 


OCTOBER. 


20.  I wonder  if  everything  about  us, 
rightly  managed,  would  become  a talent  ? 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ And  the  Lord  said  unto  him , What  is  that  in 
thine  hand?  And  he  said , A rod?9 

21.  What  wonderful  rewards  God  may 
have  in  store  for  even  our  smallest  efforts 
made  for  His  sake  ! 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ The  Lord  recompense  thy  work,  and  a full 
reward  be  given  thee  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel , 
under  whose  wings  thou  art  come  to  trust,99 

22.  There  is  no  class  of  workers  more 
utterly  to  be  pitied  than  those  who  struggle 
and  toil,  “ making  bricks  ” oftentimes  “ with- 
out straw,”  and  who  find  at  the  close  that, 
someway,  the  bricks  seem  not  to  have  been 
worth  the  cost. 

Profiles. 

“ Wherefore  do  ye  spend  money  for  that  which  is 
not  bread?  and  your  labor  for  that  which  satisfieth 
not?  hearken  diligently  unto  me,  and  eat  ye  that 
which  is  good , and  let  your  soul  delight  itself  in 
fatness," 


OCTOBER. 


119 


23.  Don’t  you  know  that  people  are  in 
strips  ? Whenever  I see  a new  face  I can 
calculate  in  a few  minutes  from  which  strip 
it  came. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ And  being  let  go , they  went  to  their  own  com- 
; pany .” 

24.  Talk  about  woman’s  intuition  ! Let 
me  assure  you  that  there  are  some  women, 
or  it  may  be  they  are  only  girls,  before  time 
and  bitter  experience  have  taught  them  the 
hard  wisdom  of  the  world,  whose  faith  in 
those  whom  they  love  is  so  absolute  that 
nothing  has  power  to  shake  it. 

Spun  from  Fact. 

“ Love  cover etli  all  sins.” 

25.  You  cannot  have  lived  in  this  world 
so  long  without  discovering  that  pain  and 
disappointment  of  every  sort  are  not  hap- 
penings, but  have  their  own  wise  and  most 
important  ends  to  fulfill,  though  we  may  be 
too  childish  to  see  the  occasion,  or  under- 
stand the  remedy. 

Spun  from  Fact. 

“ Thou  shalt  also  consider  in  thine  heart , that , 
as  a man  chasteneth  his  son , so  the  Lord  thy  God 
chasteneth  thee.” 


120 


OCTOBER. 


26.  I wonder  to  what  extent  the  gracious 
Spirit  of  God  hovers  near  to  suggest  and 
help  those  who  never  ask  for  His  help  ? 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ That  they  should  seek  the  Lord , if  haply  they 
might  feel  after  Him , and  find  Him , though  He  he 
not  far  from  every  one  of  us .” 


27.  You  and  I and  most  of  the  Christian 
world  are  trying  to  make  ourselves  good. 
We  are  willing  to  trust  Christ  for  salvation 
from  punishment,  but  as  for  trusting  Him 
to  keep  our  feet  from  falling,  we  don’t  mean 
to  do  any  such  thing.  We  are  going  to  look 
after  our  own  feet,  and  teach  them  by  grad- 
ual steps,  by  the  law  of  progression,  the  law 
of  growth,  and  any  other  law  that  we  can 
bring  to  bear  on  it,  to  attain  to  a state  of 
goodness,  not  to  be  kept  to-day,  but  to 
attain  next  year  to  a place  where  we  can 
keep  ourselves.  Isn’t  that  it  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Who  are  kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith 
unto  salvation  ready  to  he  revealedin  the  last  time.” 


OCTOBER. 


121 


28.  It  was  a surprising  thing  when  one 
stopped  to  look  at  it ; she,  a Christian 
woman,  hurrying  to  an  emergency  which 
she  consciously  did  not  know  how  to  meet, 
yet  taking  no  time  to  consult  the  acknowl- 
edged Source  of  all  wisdom,  not  only,  but 
One  who  had  graciously  said,  “ Ask  of  me” 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“And  ye  shall  he  brought  before  governors  and 
kings  for  my  sake , for  a testimony  against  them 
and  the  Gentiles. 

But  when  they  deliver  you  up , take  no  thought 
how  or  what  ye  shall  speak : for  it  shall  be  given 
you  in  that  same  hour  what  ye  shall  speak” 


29.  Don’t  you  know  there  are  things, 
legions  of  things,  that  you  cannot  explain 
to  some  people  ? You  may  lay  bare  your 
heart,  though  it  quiver  over  the  intrusion, 
and  they  will  step  on  it,  and  ask  : “ Why  is 
this?”  and  “ Of  what  use  is  that?”  and 
“ What  does  the  other  mean  ?”  until,  unless 
you  are  a saint,  you  flee  from  them  in  dismay. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ For  thou  hast  hid  their  heart  from  understand- 
ing” 


122 


OCTOBER. 


30.  “ She  had  just  been  brought  face  to 
face  with  a new  and  solemn  joy,  which  is 
unlike  any  other  joy  to  be  experienced  this 
side  of  Heaven  ; and  which  can  no  more  be 
described  than  one  can  describe  the  air  we 
breathe,  or  the  Heaven  to  which  we  are 
going.  She  had  been  permitted  of  the  Lord, 
to  speak  such  words  as  had  moved  the  soul 
of  a young  man  — a young  man  who  was  in 
peril.  He  had  been  more  than  moved  emo- 
tionally ; that  tremendous  potentate  — the 
human  will  — had  spoken.  “ I will  do  it,” 
the  young  man  had  said,  and  she  knew  that 
a decision  for  eternity  had  been  made. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God  without  ceas- 
ing, because  when  ye  received  the  word  of  God  which 
ye  heard  of  us,  ye  received  it  not  as  the  word  of  men , 
but  as  it  is  in  truth , the  word  of  God.” 

31.  I have  been  wondering  how  many  of 
us  are  children  of  the  same  family  traveling 
towards  home,  and  failing  to  recognize  the 
kinship  on  the  way. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ And  they  shall  see  his  face ; and  liis  name  shall 
be  in  their  foreheads  ” 


NOVEMBER. 


1.  “I  am  that  young  man  to  whom  you, 
on  that  never-to-be-forgotten  Sunday,  made 
plain  as  daylight  the  way  to  eternal  life.  I 
thought  you  ought  to  know  that  I kept 
my  promise  to  go  straight  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
and  claim  His  help.  And  I got  it,  bless 
His  name ! I belong  to  Him  now,  in  life 
and  death.” 

Was  ever  sweeter  music  than  this  offered 
to  a Christian’s  ears  ? 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ They  that  he  wise  shall  shine  as  the  brightness 
of  the  firmament ; ancl  they  that  turn  many  to  right- 
eousness as  the  stars  forever  and  ever.” 

2.  “ Every  spot  in  this  house  is  his- 
toric ground,”  Ermina  declared  one  morn- 
ing, after  a closely -con  tested  argument  had 
been  held.  “ Helen  and  Maria  have  a bat- 
tle in  every  room  and  on  every  chair.” 

Household  Puzzles. 

“ Him  that  is  weak  in  the  faith  receive  ye,  hut  not 
to  doubtful  disputations .” 

123 


124 


NOVEMBER. 


3.  “ Of  course  she  had  her  own  peculiar 
views  as  to  what  happiness  really  was,  and 
to  say  that  she  sometimes  came  to  grief  by 
the  very  road  which  she  supposed  led  to 
Paradise,  is  to  admit  no  more  than  falls  to 
the  lot  of  mortals  older  and  wiser  than  her- 
self.; ” 

Chrissy’s  Endeavor. 

“ Ask  counsel,  we  pray  thee,  of  God,  that  we  may 
know  whether  our  way  which  we  go  shall  he  pros- 
perous.^ 

4.  “ Just  think  ! What  if  His  memory 
were  no  better  than  our  poor  weak  ones ! 
We  cannot  remember  even  the  names  of  our 
friends  ! ” 

Spun  from  Fact. 

“ What  is  man,  that  thou  art  mindful  of  him ? 
and  the  son  of  man,  that  thou  visitest  him ?” 

5.  I never  like  to  fight  Satan  with  his 
own  weapons,  he  understands  everything 
pertaining  to  his  business  so  much  better 
than  we  do. 

Cunning  Workmen. 

“ Wherefore,  take  unto  you  the  whole  armor  of 
God,  that  ye  may  he  able  to  withstand  in  the  evil 
day , and  having  done  all , to  stand .” 


NOVEMBER. 


125 


6.  I have  unquestioning  faith  in  the 
truth  that  even  our  mistakes  He  will  over- 
rule for  our  good. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for 
good  to  them  that  love  God , to  them  who  are  the 
called  according  to  his  purpose." 

7.  We  are  willing  to  be  cleansed  in  the 
Jordan,  but  after  that,  we  want  to  see  to  it 
ourselves  that  we  do  not  get  sick  again,  and 
because  we  fail,  because  we  find  that  we 
cannot  attain  to  perfect  health,  any  more 
than  we  could  cure  ourselves  of  leprosy, 
instead  of  resting  in  the  strength  of  One 
who  has  said  His  grace  was  sufficient,  and 
that  He  was  able  to  keep  us  from  falling, 
we  go  right  on  sinning  and  repenting  and 
assuring  ourselves  that  such  is  the  way, 
and  that  with  such  living  the  Lord  who 
redeemed  us  must  be  content.  He  mustn’t 
expect  us  to  trust  Him  entirely,  until  we 
get  away  from  earth.  Is  that  fair  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Being  confident  of  this  very  thing,  that  he  which 
hath  begun  a good  work  in  you  will  perform  it  until 
the  day  of  Jesus  Christ .” 


126 


NOVEMBER. 


8.  Did  God  design  that  through  the 
channel  of  song  she  should  be  led  up  to 
Him  ? 

What  a grand  thing  it  would  be  to  have 
that  voice  sing  only  His  praise  ! 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“And,  lo,  thou  art  unto  them  as  a very  lovely 
song  of  one  that  hath  a pleasant  voice , and  can  play 
well  on  an  instrument .” 

“ In  God's  great  field  of  labor 
All  work  is  not  the  same  ; 

He  hath  a service  for  each  one 
Who  loves  His  holy  name . 

And  you  to  whom  the  secrets 
Of  all  svieet  sounds  are  known , 

Bise  up  ! for  He  hath  called  you 
To  a mission  of  your  own.” 

9.  People  will  not  be  warned  ; they  will 
just  go  and  throw  everything  away,  just 
as  Absalom  did.  I suppose  he  did  it  all  for 
the  sake  of  ambition.  I don’t  know  whether, 
after  all,  that  don’t  indicate  a trifle  more 
character  than  to  do  it  for  fun.  That  is 
what  people  seem  to  be  after  nowadays. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ He  that  pursueth  evil  pursueth  it  to  his  own 
death.” 


NOVEMBER. 


127 


10.  <(  What  difference  do  you  suppose  it 

makes  to  me  what  people  think  ? 4 To  his 

own  master  he  standeth  or  falleth.’  That 
is  Scripture,  I believe/’  declared  the  aristo- 
cratic aunt. 

“ That’s  true/’  said  Mrs.  Smith,  in  no  wise 
quenched.  “ That’s  true  enough  so  far  as 
the  judging  of  other  folks  is  concerned ; 
the  Lord  wants  to  do  that  Himself,  because 
He  understands  all  the  little  hidden  things 
that  we  know  nothing  about ; but  I guess  it 
don’t  apply  to  folks  not  caring  what  other 
people  think  of  ’em,  because  the  Lord  told 
us  to  be  careful  about  that.” 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ Moreover , lie  must  have  a good  report  of  them 
which  are  without;  lest  he  fall  into  reproach  and 
the  snare  of  the  devil.” 

11.  The  building  is  the  outward  sign  of 
His  presence,  is  it  not  ? And  suggests  one 
of  the  ways  in  which  we  can  show  our  love 
for  the  God  to  whose  worship  the  Church 
is  dedicated. 

Interrupted. 

11  If  I forget  thee , 0,  Jerusalem!  let  my  right 
hand  forget  her  cunning.” 


128 


NOVEMBER. 


12.  “If  you  do  not  try  to  understand 
the  people  who  are  of  another  world  than 
yours  — to,  in  short,  6 put  yourselves  in  their 
places/  occasionally  — how  do  you  expect 
to  be  other  than  narrow  and  cold  in  your 
charities  ? ” 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Finally , be  ye  all  of  one  mind , having  com- 
passion one  of  another , love  as  brethren 

13.  Suppose  I were  Paul,  and  should 
come  to  call  on  you  this  evening,  and  should 
say  to  you,  “ Have  you  received  the  Holy 
Ghost  since  you  believed  ? ” what  would 
you  answer  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ And  I will  pray  the  Father , and  he  shall  give 
you  another  Comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you 
forever .” 

14.  The  clear,  cultured  voice  went  on  ; 
“ Young  man,  God  is  speaking  to  you  ; He 
wants  you  ; wants  you  to-day  ; wants  your 
brains,  and  your  strength,  and  your  in- 
fluence, for  Himself.  Why  do  you  wait  ? 
You  know  you  need  Him.” 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 


“ He  calleth  thee. 


NOVEMBER. 


129 


15.  A very  little  child  can  learn  to  love 
the  Saviour. 

Helen  Lester. 

“ Samuel  ministered  before  the  Lord , being  a 
child” 

16.  It  is  better  to  give  over  planning 
the  side  that  your  arm  is  too  weak  to  reach, 
and  learn  to  trust. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ What  is  that  to  thee?  follow  thou  me” 


17,  Only  think  of  it,  whiter  than  snow  ! 
That  is  our  privilege,  to  stand  before  God 
so  white  that  even  the  whitest  thing  we 
know  is  shadowed,  in  comparison  ; and  yet 
how  little  we  try  for  it ; how  little  of  the 
whiteness  we  are  willing  to  accept.  We 
seem  rather  anxious  to  have  the  soiled  gar- 
ments left  about  us. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Come  noiv,  and  let  us  reason  together , saith  the 
Lord:  though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet , they  shall  be 
as  white  as  snow ; though  they  be  red  like  crimson , 
they  shall  be  as  wool.” 


130 


NOVEMBER. 


18.  But  do  you  think  it  is  wise  to  spend 
your  time  in  studying  the  imperfect  copies, 
without  looking  at  the  perfect  pattern  ? 
You  would  not  take  the  child’s  careless 
imitation  as  a proof  that  his  teacher  could 
not  write. 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ lam  the  Almighty  God;  walk  before  me , and 
be  thou  perfect  ” 

19.  I never  realized,  until  a few  days 
ago,  that  I was  trusting  myself  instead  of 
Christ.  I have  even  felt  a sort  of  com- 
placency at  night  when  thinking  over  the 
day.  “ I have  done  wrong  in  that  thing,” 
I said,  u and  in  that,  but  in  that  other  mat- 
ter I came  off  conqueror.  I am  stronger 
to-day  than  I was  last  week.  Oh ! well,  that 
is  encouraging  ; I can’t,  of  course,  expect  to 
be  perfect  all  in  a minute.  I can  only  keep 
pressing  on.”  Now,  whose  goodness  is  that 
but  mine?  Whom  am  I trusting?  Who 
do  I mean  cannot  make  me  free  from  my 
besetting  sins  in  a minute  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 


“ Without  me  ye  can  do  nothing: 


NOVEMBER. 


131 


20.  Who  can  tell  what  God  may  let 
those  little  hands  or  that  baby  voice  do  for 
His  glory  in  the  turning  of  the  nations  ? 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou 
hast  perfected  praise .” 

21.  Who  will  undertake  to  describe  a soul  ? 

Profiles. 

“ Who  knoweth  the  spirit  of  a man  that  goeth 
upward ." 

22.  “ She  had  come  to  a place  where 
two  roads  met,  and  one  was  a narrow  and 
possibly  somewhat  stony  pathway,  but  ever 
leading  upward,  and  growing  broader  and 
brighter  as  it  neared  the  heights  of  the 
entrance  gate  to  the  Eternal  City ; while 
the  other  was  a distinct  downward  plunge.” 

Chrissy’s  Endeavor. 

“ There  is  a line  by  us  unseen , 

That  crosses  every  path  ; 

That  marks  the  boundary  between 
God's  mercy  and  His  wrath." 

“ There  is  a way  which  seemeth  right  unto  a man , 
but  the  end  thereof  are  the  vxiys  of  death." 


132 


NOVEMBER. 


23.  “ The  expulsive  power  of  a new 
affection.” 

I often  think  of  that  sentence  in  one  of 
my  old  text  books.  It  works  magic  with 
the  human  heart. 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ If  any  man  love  me , he  will  keep  my  words : and 
my  Father  will  love  him , and  we  will  come  unto  him , 
and  make  our  abode  with  him.” 

24.  Suppose  every  lecturer  were  called 
upon  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  words 
he  used ! What  would  become  of  the  lec- 
turer ? 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ Who  is  he  that  hideth  counsel  without  knowl- 
edge? therefore  have  I uttered  that  I understood 
not ; things  too  wonderful  for  me,  which  I knew  not” 

25.  You  cannot  see  the  heart.  Only  the 
Lord  can  see  that,  and  it  is  only  the  Lord 
who  has,  therefore,  a right  to  judge. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ But  Jesus  did  not  commit  himself  unto  them , 
because  he  knew  all  men , 

And  needed  not  that  any  should  testify  of  man : 
for  he  knew  what  was  in  man.” 


NOVEMBER. 


133 


26.  All  the  combined  wisdom  of  the 
world,  though  it  was  poured  into  my  ears 
in  the  form  of  arguments  to  which  I could 
make  no  answer  in  words,  could  not  con- 
vince me  that  God  does  not  hear  my  prayer 
and  answer : because  I have  daily  proof 
from  Himself  that  He  does  just  that  thing. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

11  In  my  distress  I called  upon  the  Lord , and  cried 
to  my  God : and  He  did  hear  my  voice  out  of  His 
temple , and  my  cry  did  enter  into  His  ears.” 

27.  Isn’t  it  cowardly  to  mind  a laugh, 
when  the  road  we  want  to  take  is  not  only 
the  most  sensible,  but  the  only  safe  one  to 
take? 

Helen  Lester. 

“ Blessed  are  ye  that  weep  now:  for  ye  shall 
laugh.” 

28.  “But  one  must  stand  somewhere. 
Either  you  are  willing  to  try  to  please  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  to-day , or  else  you  are 
not  willing.  There  is  no  middle  ground.” 

Chrissy’s  Endeavor. 

“ Choose  ye  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve.”  “ If 
the  Lord  be  God , follow  him.” 


134 


NOVEMBER. 


29.  “It  would  be  curious  to  trace  tlie 
laws  of  influence,  and  see  in  what  remote 
quarters  they  touch;  and  how  strangely 
unlike  the  starting-point  is  the  message 
which  is  brought  to  some.” 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ That  which  is  far  off , and  exceeding  deep , who 
can  find  it  out  ? ” 

“ But  He  knoweth  the  way  that  I take.” 

30.  Ah,  well,  they  lived  through  it.  It 
is  surprising  how  many  trials  we  do  succeed 
in  pushing  through,  and  coming  out  alive  on 
the  other  side  ! 

Profiles. 

“ These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribu- 
lation, and  have  washed  their  robes , and  made  them 
white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.” 


DECEMBER. 


1.  A year  is  only  a half-hour  in  Heaven. 

Household  Puzzles. 

4 But , beloved , ignorant  of  this  one  thing , 

one  day  is  with  the  Lord  as  a thousand  years , 
a thousand  years  as  one  day ." 

“ TF/ieft  we’ve  Seen  there  ten  thousand  years, 
Bright  shining  as  the  sun, 

We've  no  less  days  to  sing  God's  praise, 

Than  when  we  first  begun." 

2.  I doubt  if  there  are  any  chains  harder 
to  break  than  sleepy  ones. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Therefore,  let  us  not  sleep,  as  do  others ; but 
let  us  watch  and  be  sober." 

3.  God  meant  that  the  human  will  should 
be  a great  engine  for  good,  but  the  human 
will  perverted,  is  a rotten  plank,  on  which 
one’s  weight  cannot  be  trusted. 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ I seek  not  mine  own  will,  but  the  will  of  the 
Father  which  hath  sent  me." 

135 


136 


DECEMBER. 


4.  “ And  says  Solomon,  I s’pose  if  we 
had  growin ’ faith  like  a grain  of  mustard 
seed  — that  doesn’t  stay  a grain,  after  it  is 
planted,  but  grows  up  into  a tree  — if  we 
was  like  that,  we  would  keep  amazing  folks 
all  the  time  ; they  would  say  they  never 
saw  the  like ! And  they  would  have  to 
glorify  God  whether  they  wanted  to  or  not. 
The  trouble  is,  we  ain’t  mustard  trees  at  all, 
but  poor  little  dwarf  plants ; we  don’t  die 
outright,  and  that’s  about  all  that  can  be 
said  of  us.’  ” 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ And  immediately  he  arose , took  up  the  bed , and 
went  forth  before  them  all ; insomuch  that  they  were 
all  amazed , and  glorified  God , saying , We  never 
saw  it  on  this  fashion ” 

5.  I will  give  you  a general  rule,  which 
I have  found  a great  benefit  in  my  Christian 
life.  If  you  find  there  is  the  least  doubt  in 
your  mind  as  to  the  right  or  wrong  of  a 
certain  path,  give  Christ  the  benefit  of  the 
doubt  and  you  will  surely  be  right. 

Cunning  Workmen. 

“ And  he  that  doubteth  is  condemned” 


DECEMBER. 


137 


6.  If  all  honest  unbelievers  would  but 
stop  their  reasoning,  trying  to  plan  out 
God’s  work  for  Him,  and  go  to  Him  with 
the  whole  story,  how  quickly  it  would 
silence  all  doubt.  For  faith  is  the  gift  of 
God. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ If  any  man  will  do  His  will , lie  shall  know  of 
the  doctrine , whether  it  he  of  God , or  whether  I 
speak  of  myself” 

7.  Some  sorrowful  places  there  may  be 
for  your  feet  and  mine  on  our  journey  home. 
Bear  the  thorns  of  the  way  in  patience,  for 
they  are  only  on  the  way  through  the  woods  ; 
not  a thorn  in  the  home. 

Interrupted. 

“ For  I reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present 
time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 
which  shall  he  revealed  in  us” 

8.  Remember  that  no  early  mistake  can 
be  righted  by  adding  to  it  a later  and  a 
graver  one. 

The  Randolphs. 

“ And  the  king  was  sorry : nevertheless,  for  the 
oath's  sake , and  them  which  sat  with  him  at  meat , he 
commanded  it  to  he  given  her” 


138 


DECEMBER. 


9.  If  you  could  be  sure  that  the  hand  of 
the  Lord  was  really  in  every  phase  of  life, 
how  greatly  would  it  tone  and  temper  all 
the  experiences  thereof  ! 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Behold  the  fowls  of  the  air : for  they  sow  not, 
neither  do  they  reap,  nor  gather  into  barns;  yet 
your  Heavenly  Father  feedeth  them.  Are  ye  not 
much  better  than  they?  ** 

10.  “ In  the  meantime,  what  you  and  I 
find  in  the  Bible  that  God  has  spoken,  we 
will  try  to  do,  always  : whether  it  is  hard 
or  easy.  Shall  we  not  ? ” 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ If  ye  keep  my  commandments , ye  shall  abide  in 
my  love  ; even  as  I have  kept  my  Father's  command - 
ments , and  abide  in  his  love?* 

11.  “ There  is  no  respect  of  persons  with 
God.” 

What  is  the  use  in  a man  thinking  about 
his  “ position  ” or  his  “ abilities  ” after  that  ? 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ My  brethren,  have  not  the  faith  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Lord  of  glory,  with  respect  of 
persons.** 


DECEMBER. 


139 


12.  “It  is  not  heavy  trials  always  which 
unnerve  us.  Our  Christian  faith  often  rises 
superior  to  these,  when  a pin-prick  would 
move  us  to  tears.” 

Spun  from  Fact. 

“ Though  now  for  a season,  if  need  be,  ye  are  in 
heaviness  through  manifold  temptations : 

That  the  trial  of  your  faith  being  more  precious 
than  that  of  gold  that  perisheth,  though  it  be  tried 
with  fire,  might  be  found  unto  praise  and  honor  and 
glory  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ” 

13.  I know,  I have  to  be  careful  of  mak- 
ing conditions,  when  it  comes  to  a matter 
of  prayer.  It  is  the  Lord’s  right  to  make 
conditions  if  He  will ; but  it  is  not  mine. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ And  this  is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in  him, 
that,  if  we  ask  anything  according  to  his  ivill,  he 
heareth  us.” 

14.  I should  like  to  know  if  even  a little 
knowledge  isn’t  better  than  ignorance : 
Suppose  a stream  isn’t  very  deep ; if  it  is 
water  that  we  need,  it  is  much  better  than 
no  stream  at  all,  isn’t  it  ? 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ And  she  said,  Truth,  Lord : yet  the  dogs  eat  of 
the  crumbs  which  fall  from  their  masters'  table.” 


140 


DECEMBER. 


15.  Certain  sopranos  were  asked  to  pre- 
pare choice  selections,  such  as  : “ I think 
only  of  thee,  Love,”  and  “ My  Heart’s  dearest 
Treasure,”  and  “ Ever  thine  own,  Love,”  and 
a few  other  of  those  gems  which  we  hear 
screamed  out  by  seraphic  voices  to  large  and 
appreciative  audiences.  I have  never  heard 
it  explained  why  so  much  of  our  popular 
music  should  be  wedded  to  words  which  the 
performer  would  blush  to  repeat  in  prose  to 
an  audience  of  more  than  one. 

Profiles. 

“ It  is  better  to  hear  the  rebuke  of  the  wise , than 
for  a man  to  hear  the  song  of  fools  ” 

16.  The  Lord  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  compromises.  When  He  has  made  the 
right  entirely  plain  to  you,  the  manner  in 
which  you  may  be  sustained,  while  you  are 
treading  the  road  of  His  pointing  out,  is  in 
a sense  not  your  concern ; He  will  under- 
take for  you.  Trust  Him. 

The  Pocket  Measure. 

“ Hath  the  Lord  as  great  delight  in  burnt  offer- 
ings and  sacrifices , as  in  obeying  the  voice  of  the 
Lord ? Behold , to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice .” 


DECEMBER. 


141 


17.  It  is  noticeable  that  when  we  get 
clown  to  the  root  of  the  matter  and  question 
how  the  Lord  Himself  views  us,  instead  of 
what  human  eyes  see  and  human  hearts 
think,  we  forget  the  mote  in  our  brother’s 
eye  and  busy  ourselves  solemnly  with  the 
beam  in  our  own  eye. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ Behold , I am  vile  ; what  shall  I answer  thee? 
I loill  lay  mine  hand  upon  my  mouth” 

18.  Sometimes  I have  heard  people  talk 
as  though  they  really  thought  there  was  a 
different  code  of  rules  for  a minister’s  life, 
than  for  the  ordinary  Christian’s.  But, 
after  all,  he  has  to  be  guided  by  the  same 
Bible,  led  by  the  same  Spirit. 

A New  Graft. 

“ And,  let  every  one  that  nameth  the  name  of 
Christ  depart  from  iniquity  ” 

19.  It  often  happens  that  what  we  cannot 
find  in  this  world  ready  made  to  our  needs, 
we  proceed  to  manufacture. 

The  Hall  in  the  Grove. 

“ And  when  they  could  not  come  nigh  unto  him 
for  the  press,  they  uncovered  the  roof  where  he  was : 
and  when  they  had  broken  it  up,  they  let  down  the 
bed  wherein  the  sick  of  the  palsy  lay” 


142 


DECEMBER. 


20.  I was  as  certainly  chosen  of  God  as 
ever  Paul  was  ; for  assuredly  I did  not  come 
to  Him  of  myself,  and  therefore  He  must  in- 
deed have  chosen  me  ; and  I wonder  whether 
probably  each  Christian  has  not  a work  to 
do  as  definite  as  Paul’s  — a work  that  would 
be  given  to  no  other,  unless  indeed  the 
chosen  one  failed. 

Ester  Ried  Yet  Speaking. 

“ The  God  of  our  fathers  hath  chosen  thee , that 
thou  sliouldst  know  his  will” 

21.  The  Lord  met  Saul  and  gave  him 
wonderful  salvation,  but  He  didn’t  save 
him  from  many  a future  trial  and  pain.  He 
never  promised  to  do  so. 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ For  whom  the  Lord  loveth  he  chasteneth , and 
scour geth  every  son  whom  he  receiveth.” 

22.  Who  lives  exclamation  points  every 
day  ? There  comes  occasionally  one,  into 
most  lives  ; but,  for  the  most  part,  lives  are 
made  up  of  commas,  and  interrogations,  and 
dashes. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses. 


“ My  times  are  in  thy  hand . 


DECEMBER. 


143 


23.  “ He  was  not  the  sort  of  man  who 

could  frankly  say,  ‘ I was  in  the  wrong,  I beg 
you  will  forgive/  Such  a statement  calls 
for  a very  high  grade  of  character ; calls, 
perhaps,  for  Christian  character ; though 
there  have  been  men  who  knew  how  to  say 
‘ forgive  me,’  to  mortals,  not  yet  having 
learned  to  say  it  to  Christ ! ” 

Judge  Burnham’s  Daughters. 

“ Humble  yourselves  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord , and 
he  shall  lift  you  up.” 


24.  I don’t  know  the  end  of  any  story 
that  is  being  lived  now  — yours  or  mine, 
for  instance ; but  the  Lord  does ; and  I 
would  much  rather  have  Him  do  all  the 
planning. 

An  Endless  Chain. 

“ But  he  Tcnoweth  the  way  that  I take : when  he 
hath  tried  me , I shall  come  forth  as  gold.” 

1 ‘ His  wisdom  ever  waketh , 

His  sight  is  never  dim  ; 

He  knows  the  way  He  taketh, 

And  I will  walk  with  Him.” 


144 


DECEMBER. 


25.  I have  often  wondered  what  the  wise 
men  said  when  they  saw  that  Baby.  I have 
often  wondered  whether  they  dared  to  touch 
Him,  to  put  His  soft  hand  on  their  faces, 
and  kiss  His  sweet,  pure  lips.  But  this  I 
know ; wherever  they  went,  they  told  that 
the  King  had  come,  and  they  had  seen  Him. 
Years  and  years  ago  it  happened,  yet  the 
men  and  women,  boys  and  girls,  are  talking, 
singing  and  thinking  about  it  to-day.  The 
most  wonderful  night  the  world  has  ever 
known,  was  that  in  which  the  angels  sang 
the  song  of  the  new-born  king. 

A Sweet  Old  Story. 

“ Where  is  he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews ? for 
we  have  seen  his  star  in  the  east , and  are  come  to 
worship  him." 


26.  You  know  reasons  can  almost  always 
be  found  for  things,  when  we  are  very 
anxious  to  find  them. 

Ruth  Erskine’s  Crosses, 

“ In  which  are  some  things  hard  to  be  understood , 
which  they  that  are  unlearned  and  unstable  wrest , 
as  they  do  also  the  other  scriptures , unto  their  own 
destruction .” 


DECEMBER. 


145 


27.  “Said  I to  Jessie:  ‘ That’s  for  all 

the  world  the  way  your  Uncle  Solomon  acts 
when  he  gets  in  the  house  a little  before 
dinner  is  ready.  He  looks  at  the  clock,  and 
he  watches  me,  and  he  gapes,  and  he  acts  as 
though  there  was  nothing  in  the  world  he 
was  so  near  ready  for  as  his  dinner,  till  I 
get  it  on  the  table,  and  say,  “ Come,  Sol- 
omon,” and  then  he’s  off.  He  finds  out  that 
the  gate  isn’t  shut,  and  that  the  stove  in  the 
front  room  needs  a stick  of  wood,  and  his 
hands  need  washing,  and  there’s  no  end  to 
the  things  that  he  seems  to  think  he  must 
do  while  the  dinner  sets  there  and  spoils.’  ” 

Mrs.  Solomon  Smith. 

“ In  all  things  shewing  thyself  a pattern  of  good 
works .” 

28.  Why  do  we,  any  of  us,  allow  temper, 
and  neuralgia,  and  colds  in  the  head,  to  get 
the  better  of  us  ? I’m  sure  I don’t  know ; 
but  haven’t  you  done  it  ? 

Links  in  Rebecca’s  Life. 

“ And  he  said  unto  me,  My  grace  is  sufficient  for 
thee : for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weakness. 
Most  gladly  therefore  will  I glory  in  my  infirmities , 
that  the  poiver  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me .” 


146 


DECEMBER. 


29.  Suppose  we  knew  all  the  histories  of 
all  the  happenings  of  one  day  ? With  what 
awe,  and  dismay,  and  terror,  and  gratitude, 
they  might  fill  us,  according  as  we  had,  with 
our  little  thoughtless  words  and  ways,  helped 
or  hindered  the  march  of  a soul ! 

One  Commonplace  Day. 

“ Be  not  deceived;  God  is  not  mocked ; for  what- 
soever a man  soweth , that  shall  he  also  reap.” 

30.  “ Some  day,  mother,  he  will  slip 
away  from  the  hedges  with  which  your 
love  has  surrounded  him. 

“You  have  not  fed  him  with  reasons  for 
things.  So  many  mothers  are  failing  here.” 

Her  David. 

“ Train  up  a child  in  the  way  he  should  go : and 
when  he  is  old , he  ivill  not  depart  from  it.” 

31.  Acts  that  involve  a lifetime  of  trouble 
can  be  told  in  a few  words. 

The  Chautauqua  Girls  at  Home. 


“ It  is  finished. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


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